2023: Albums & Conclusions

Originally posted April 2025

ALBUMS:

Marking key at bottom

Lewis Capaldi “Broken By A Desire To Be Heavenly”

The most successful album of 2023 that was not a classic album, an album released earlier than 2023, a best of or other compilation album, or one of Taylor Swifts re-make albums. However, it was actually only the 15^th most successful album of the year overall. This is something that I will continue to highlight as a problem with the album charts now. In this case, you have to get to number 15 of the albums of 2023 before you actually get to a new album released in 2023. Anyway...... I knew of Lewis Capaldi. He’s pretty massive. Judging by this album he’s a decent songwriter, good performer, and great singer. I cant really fault him there. However, this is one of those albums I describe as a bit ‘flat’. There’s nothing to get my teeth into. There’s no spark, no grit, nothing that really grabs me and shakes the hell out of me. 5

Ed Sheeran “-“

Much like the Capaldi album, it’s clear the man is a skilled song-writer but I would wouldn’t describe this as ‘inspired work’. He’s much more varied than Capaldi and there are some interesting musical arrangements. Interesting, he released a further album in late 2023 called “Autumn Variations”. That album is considered something of a ‘side project’ (the main projects maths symbols titles, and the ‘collaborations’ albums). Although it was #1, it performed notably poorer than Sheeran usually does, so I’m guessing was not pushed by Sheeran and promoters in the usual manner. However, critics seemed to take to that album more than this one. So I think I will have to squeeze that into the 2023 listening somewhere. 6

.......... I squeezed “Autumn Variations” in. I think it IS the better of the 2 – but only to the point of a high 6 vs a mid 6. Curiously, the songs themselves in terms of melody, lyrics etc., are less good but the arrangements are more interesting. 6

Lana Del Ray “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd”

I like the presentation – a throwback to 1950s/60s solo artists’ vinyl album covers - with a grainy shot of the artist and the tracklisting on the cover. I immediately thought of Otis Reading’s “Otis Blue”. I knew this was a very acclaimed album but noted it was very long. It look a while to really kick off – the 1^st 3 tracks were fine but nothing special. Things did start to get interesting with “A&W” a 7-plus minute track that goes through something of a journey and changes the entire tone of the album halfway through. From here the tracks continue to be generally good and the interest is kept up with interludes of spoken dialogue from Pastor Judah Smith and a recording of what sounds like musician Jon Batiste messing around at a piano. There are moments of brilliance. “Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulder Of My Father While He’s Deep-Sea Fishing” is a highlight. There’s a 3-track run towards the end – “Margaret”, “Fishtail” & “Peppers” – that I really like -  a bit different, edgy, and innovative. However, there’s a lot of middle-of-the-road stuff here. I’d say somewhere within this album lurks an edit that would be an 8/10. But overall....... 6

Travis Scott “Utopia”

Yea, brilliant. In terms of ‘creativity/innovation’ etc., I’m learning that hip hop and associates genres are leading the way in recent years. Borrowing from more distant genres, grabbing bits from here, bits from there....... ‘mixing it up’ or whatever. This album is a great example. It still has this issue with duration that still bothers me with this genre. I feel like someone needs to step in with some ruthless editing. That said. 7

Tom Grennan “What Ifs & Maybes”

I can hear the appeal. I was excited that I knew the opening track “How Does It Feel” and I’ll admit its a ‘banger’ and a great opening. I also knew “Here” and “Head Up” – both great tunes also. I like “Love Don’t Cost A Thing”. “Lionheart (Fearless)” is one of the strongest closings to an album I’ve heard while doing this project. On the whole it’s all pretty strong song-writing. My criticism would be that there’s nothing in particular that I found unique about this music compared to other artists of similar ilk. There are also some definite ‘filler’ tracks which, considering the albums is 50 minute long, could easily have been dropped. In summary – it’s great pop music but perhaps a little undistinguished. But, I tell you what, if you create a little playlist of the 5 tracks I’ve mentioned you’ve got one hell of an E.P. 6  

J Hus “Beautiful And Brutal Yard”

When I saw my next listening in the line-up was a hip-hop-based album that clocked in at 63 minutes I signed inwardly. However, I was wrong. I’m not in my strongest territory here but I believe this is known as ‘afro-swing’ or something similar – so while there are elements of hip hop & R&B there’s also Jamaican Dancehall/Reggae, world music, etc., and I detect elements of swing, jazz, classical and more. There’s a lot of rhythmic elements that interested me as well. For example, the track “Massacre”  seems to be in 11/8 time (11 short beats in each phrase) which is a time signature I would have to work hard to perform in. In contrast there are a number of tracks that chug along with nothing particularly noteworthy. Given that the album is over an hour long, I think that let’s it down quite a bit. 6

Jessie Ware “That! Feels Good!”

Wow – didn’t see this one coming. An artist who has been around for over a decade now so, although this album was critically acclaimed, I was thinking this was someone probably past their best. And – I don’t really know any Jessie Ware so she might well be past her best. But if she is then she must have once been out-of-this-world phenomenal! There’s a distinct early 80s synth sounds to this but with heavy lashings of earlier 70s disco and sprinkles of funk and soul.  The 1^st track “That! Feels Good” is an impressive opener with its multiple snippets of vocal phrases which are layered and backed with a striking arrangement. I was excited when I recognised the 2^nd track “Free Yourself” as a track I’ve heard and thought was a belter. The same went for the 3^rd track “Pearls”. I think I recognised “Freak Me Now” too – Its a banger either way. The album has high energy and I love some of the musical idiosyncrasies that are offered such as the drawn-out chromaticism in the melody of “Begin Again”, the slightly out of place tuned percussion on “Beautiful People”, the octave jump of the vocal “oooh, wah” figure in “Shake the Bottle”, or the wailing figure and distorted backing vocals of “Lightning”. There are some tracks like “Hello Love” that I would describe as ‘weaker’, and the album tails off a little later on- but that’s very relative. I wasn’t feeling down when I put his on..... but it still perked me up no end. 7

Lankum “False Lankum”

This is brilliant!! It’s based quite firmly in Irish folk music, but being quite experimental/creative/innovative , although without veering into completely inaccessible territory for Irish folk fans. Also, while I appreciate this is a personal preference, that ‘experimental/creative/innovative’ is quite ‘dark’, which is always going to pull me in more successfully. If I were to criticise, it is a little long at 70 minute. To be fair I wouldn’t edit it all the way back to 40 mins or anything, but felt there was a bit of ‘trimming’ that could be done without diminishing any impact. 8

Olivia Dean “Messy”

Rooted in traditional soul but drawing on other influences (from jazz to disco) with a modern edge. Its very traditional in its song-writing approach. This means its not particularly original but has strong melodies with simple non-cliché lyrics, is arranged well and performed impeccably. It works well as an album too with an intriguing opening and a very strong ending.  My very vague ‘niggle’ is it seems to lack a little something. I sort of want to give it a mark higher but I realise there’s nothing that really really grabs me, piques my interest, makes me want to listen again, ‘wows’ me. A couple of tracks get close, “The Hardest Part” & “Carmen”.... but not quite. Its a very high 6 - but nonetheless a..... 6

Raye “My 21^st Century Blues”

I was surprised this wasn’t one of the absolutely highest streamed albums of 2023 (I mean – it did do well but....) given how acclaimed it is. I also expected it to be better. It is good though. I like the set-up with an intro like we’re present at a jazz parlour gig. She has a great voice for both singing and rapping and I enjoy her ‘style’. I’m not sure what to make of the sort of ‘end credits’ spoken outro “Fin.” But, I suppose it’s nice to be thanked for listening. Lol. Overall, there are some great track “Escapism”, “Mary Jane”, “The Thrill Is Gone”,  and “Worth It”. I have mixed feelings about the final track (excluding “Fin”) “Buss It Down”. On the one hand it’s a great close with its gospel choir-style vocals work. On the other hand I can’t help but feel that gospel choir-style vocals work is covering up the fact that the songs itself isn’t all that good. The remaining tracks are similar, in that they have interesting things about them such as vocal quirks, unusual beats or sudden switches in ambience, tempo or even style.... but the songs themselves are somewhat lacking. Lyrically, I’m never going to criticise the fact that she deals with some very important and poignant matters that are faced by young women in particular. “Ice Cream Man”, “Body Dysmorphia” “Environmental Anxiety”. Fair play. I see massive potential for Raye to make a mind-blowing album. I think its coming. This wasn’t it though. 6

Miley Cyrus “Endless Summer Vacation”

“Flowers”, which opens this album, was the most successful song of 2023. Its decent. But, that’s it. Decent. Not superb or anything. And that pretty much describes every track on this album. I think “Flowers” popularity was because people related to the lyrics more than anything. And to be fair, I get that with “Used To Be Young”. The words ‘I know I used to be crazy, I know I used to be fun, you say I used to be wild,  [  ]  that’s ‘cause I used to be young’. Yea, I totally relate to that. I really like the cadence of the chorus in that song too. It’s a fall from the 4^th to the 3^rd note of the scale (which is a semitone) followed by a leap to the top note (rather than a more predictable drop to the bottom one). The interval in isolation would be an augmented 5^th, which is an interesting interval. In the context of the harmony is doesn’t work like that, and that’s what makes it so beautiful to my ear. Anyway, that aside. All ‘decent’. Nothing stupendous. ‘Decent’ after ‘decent’ after ‘decent’ does wear a bit thin for an entire album. 5

Young Fathers “Heavy Heavy”

This is really brilliant. I’d say almost in a league of its own. I’m not sure how you’d describe it in terms of ‘genre’ and I think it would be daft to do so. I detected pop, rock, soul, R&B, hip hop, electro-pop, electro-rock and all sorts. It was kind of ‘lo-fi’ which I haven’t heard much recently so that was great. They steer away from any typical song structure or anything like that. You just have to listen to it really. I would highly recommend. 7

Angel Du$t “Brand New Soul”

For the 1^st half of the 1^st track I was thinking ‘oh here we go. A rock band doing rock music........ like we haven’t been listening to that for, like, 70 years now.’ But, I was wrong. It has everything rock music does, sure. Heavy bass, fast paced head-banging, kick-ass guitar riff, loud throaty vocals and shouting etc. But, it rarely conforms to standard rock-song structures and has lots of interesting eccentricities going on. ‘Massively playing around with the traditional rock formula’ is how I’d describe it. If, like me, you ARE a rock music fan but have just got so fed up with it over the last decade or so, then this album is my gift to you. Enjoy. 7

Luke Combs “Gettin’ Old”

This is good old traditional country pop music done well. Its all perfect country pop, good solid songwriting (there are also a few covers on here including Tracy Chapman's “Fast Car”), and he has the perfect voice for it. I’d be surprised if this wasn’t considered at least ‘decent’ by county music fans. I’d be interested to know what Simon Ore ’s opinion is of this guy. To be critical – I think its SO perfect country that it’s a little cliché/corny. Also, although the song-writing is strong there’s no absolutely belters or instant classics on here. Considering that, by the time you get to the end of the 67 minutes you are thinking ‘bloody hell, that went on a bit’. 6

ALBUMS I ALREADY KNEW:

Rick Astley “Are We There Yet”

Simon and me saw him live in 2024 – what a performer, what a great show. This album, like the majority of albums by older long-establishes artists, doesn’t necessarily recapture the magic of the earliest stuff. It a collection of really good songs, through. I love “Dippin’ My Feet”. 6

Peter Gabriel “i/o”

I’ve struggled with this one since it came out. I don’t quite understand it. If you don’t know – it 12 tracks followed by the same 12 tracks that are mixed/produced differently. So, in some ways the tracks are identical – its what has been done to them post-recording that’s different. The first rendition is ‘The Bright Side’ – then it’s ‘The Dark Side’. So, my issue is..... what is this? Is it one album? Is it 2 albums? Is it the same album but you chose just 1 version depending on your mood? Is ‘The Dark Side’ like a ‘bonus disk’ and ‘The Bright Side’ is the actual album..... or vice-versa. Of course, there answer is none of these things, all of these things, and everything in between. The real issue is ME being stuck in my ways. I have an idea of what an album is.... and the Internet and technology is blurring it somewhat and my old-man brain can’t cope. Indeed, I noticed during 2024 that artists don’t need to package up and release their album and that’s the end of the story. There are now 3 versions of Charlie XCX's “Brat” that seem to count as the same album when it comes to the Charts and other listings. Similarly Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Society” has the “Anthology Version” which was released the same day and for many listings do not make any distinction between the two.

But, having got past this and deciding to open my mind a bit.......... I have still struggled. I’m still not sure HOW to listen to it. The critics seemed to largely love it but most didn’t really offer me any help with that issue. What did seem clear to me was that this ‘concept’ seemed more important to them than getting their teeth into the music. I think that DID help because I had a starting point. Actually, it is pretty standard solo Gabriel. It is very good, pushes the boundaries of pop a little but without going so far as to create ‘challenging listening’. ‘Interesting listening’ but not ‘challenging listening’. To be honest, this album is just more of that. Its good, but I don’t think it particularly moves either the story of pop music or Peter Gabriel on any further. Apart from the concept itself. If this album makes a mark on history it will be that. A landmark of the concept it presents rather than an outstanding album in general.

The critics also focused on the idea that the album was ‘28 years in the making’ – a claim I don’t think Gabriel made himself, but is cited because he mentioned the 1^st work on it began in 1995. So, I’m suspicious of that claim. For instance, I could say I’ve been working on a novel for 25 years now. I had an initial scene written in 2000. I then started turning that into a novel 2003-4, then 2006-7, then 2018. So, in truth I’ve been working on it for 6 years tops (but not really even that).

Anyway, I still don’t know but I will say this. I prefer ‘The Dark Side’ to ‘The Bright Side’, especially the tracks “The Court”, “Four Kinds Of Horses” and “Olive Tree”. So, if we were to separate them I’d say ‘The Bright Side’ 6 & ‘The Dark Side’ 7. Overall – I’m struggling.  I Don’t Know. So (.......... to name another Gabriel album haha)...... 6

Chappell Roan

I reviewed this within the 2024 posts. 6

Olivia Rodrigo.

This was the very 1^st album I listened to when I started the Gwim project – I hadn’t quite decided on the parameters of what I was going to do at that time  - so there was never a review but I remember thinking 6. 6

Madness

You can read my review in the 'Longer Reviews' section

Madness having a number 1 album was a big part of what got me interested in exploring the modern charts and how it all worked. This, by extension, led to the GWIM project just a couple of months later. 7

CONCLUSIONS:

It’s a bit early really to come up with anything significant. Even if we just focus on the notion that pop music has deteriorated over the years I’m not sure what we can say here. Based on what I’ve listened to I’d say I preferred 2023 to 2024. That might be supporting evidence. However, I’ve spent less than 10% of listening time 2023 compared with 2024 – so it’s very likely that I’m hearing a ‘best of’ collection. This will skew the results. That said, I unquestionably  enjoyed listening to this year’s offerings. Well done 2023 👏👏👏👏👏

Marking key (in a nutshell)

10 – Perfect (only 3 albums in history)

9 – Basically 10/10 (I just don’t quite view them in the same way as the 3 albums)

8 – Outstanding (possible nit-picking criticisms)

7 – Brilliant

6 – Good

5 – Average

4 – Has potential but below average

3 – Some good points but not very good overall

2 – Poor (possibly a few good points)

1 – Abysmal