OPE! Mixtape #23: Goodbye, 2023
For the last newsletter of 2023, here are the five songs and 10 albums I submitted to Uproxx's annual music critics poll
Well, hello there. How are you?
Happy Tuesday evening. I have a lot of meetings tomorrow morning, so I figured to send the last newsletter of the year a few hours early as an end-of-year surprise :)
A quick aside: I profiled boygenius as Stereogum’s Artist of 2023 and the feature is now live. I have a few more features running next month, but this is the last piece of writing I’ll be able to share in this newsletter. Would love for you to check it out. Thank you for reading.
This is indeed the last OPE! of 2023. I always take December off and a good chunk of January to recharge and enjoy all the holiday travels. I hope you’re able to enjoy this end-of-year season. If you had a great year, I hope you take that positively and mindfulness into the new year. If you had a hard year or it ended up being a mixed bag, I hope you’re able to rest and create space for yourself to think about how 2024 can be a year that works for you.
Every year, I contribute to Uproxx’s music critics poll, which has filled the void of the late long-running Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll which I also participated in. It’s fun. Some take it more seriously than I do. I mostly enjoy seeing all the albums that my colleagues loved this year and what all I need to catch up on. I figured it would be a nice way to end this year with a round-up of the songs and albums that meant the most to me in 2023.
We all know end-of-year lists can be silly and don’t capture the full nuance of all the music that came out within a year. Think of this as a launching pad to check out some great music that you may have missed, rather than taking this as absolute truth. Talk to me tomorrow and this list will probably change. Let’s enjoy this snapshot in time.
Let’s get to it!
MY TOP FIVE SONGS OF 2023 (That Aren’t On My Top 10 Albums List)
My rule for any end-of-year songs list: I don’t include any songs that also appear on my top albums list. The thinking is that if I like an entire album, I like all the songs on that album. This also forces me to get creative and give some love to artists I might otherwise miss. These songs are ordered from “least” to “best.” I like all these songs for different reasons but still had to rank them.
Honorary Mention: A Tie Between Blondshell’s “Joiner” and NewJeans’ “Super Shy”
Blondshell and NewJeans are new (to me) artists who broke through in 2023 in big ways with strong “I’ve heard this a million times, but this is done well” energy. I think Blondshell has a future classic in her. NewJeans might be the first massive K-pop act that doesn’t give me a headache; probably because their music sounds like PlayStation start-up music. I didn’t love these artists as much as other people, but I find these two easy to root for.
5. Geese / “Tomorrow’s Crusades”
Most Unexpected Wedding Ballad
A highlight of my year was attending two wonderful weddings of some very close friends, both of which took me back to NYC for the first time since I moved out of the city a few years ago. Around both weddings, I was getting ready to review the new Geese record for Pitchfork. I tried to be generous in my final review, but even on an uneven album, “Tomorrow’s Crusades” stood out to me. It’s a weird romantic ballad with an excellent chorus that hinges on the line “Where would I ever be without you?” which felt so fitting for these special moments in which I got to celebrate some wonderful people entering a new phase of life. Many music critics choose end-of-year songs and albums that speak most to “the culture." I do too, in a way. But “Tomorrow’s Crusades” carries so much personal meaning for me that I had to include it on my personal list. This song makes me think of happy memories.
4. ghost orchard / “cut (MONEYPHONE Remix)”
Best “Vibe”
2023 had a lot of great vibe music that drove me crazy. I’m an annoying 90-year-old who wants songs, not TikTok vibes. Ghost Orchard was an exception. I’m not sure if I would even call “cut (MONEYPHONE Remix)” a TikTok vibe. It’s just the sound of excitable jitters running through my brain.
3. The National / “Space Invader”
Best Consolation Prize
In 2023, The National released their two worst albums. They’re painfully bad. I don’t know if I love “Space Invader” because it’s the only saving grace of either album or if this is genuinely a great song. I think it’s the latter. Either way, this is the rare National song that demonstrates how strong the band still are as a live unit. Stick around for that explosive end.
2. Billie Eilish / “What Was I Made For?”
Most Extreme Case Of A Song That I Didn’t Want To Like Because Everyone Else Loved It So Much And The Recording Academy Would Give Billie Eilish A Grammy For Burping Into A Microphone So I Didn’t Want To Give This Song Any More Attention Until I Remembered, “Hey Who Gives A Shit, This Song Is Lovely And I Never Want To Turn It Off When It Comes On The Radio”
“What Was I Made For?” really is lovely.
1. White Reaper / “Fog Machine”
My Favorite Song Of 2023
Longtime newsletter readers will laugh. This is probably the most on-the-nose pick I could make. I will not apologize for being true to myself.
I’m on record for saying that White Reaper’s “Judy French” is the best guitar rock song of the 2010s. I stand by it. So when I say that “Fog Machine” approaches the same level of “Judy French” riffage and glory, you know that it’s one of the highest compliments I can give. I also reviewed this album for Pitchfork and didn’t love it as much as I wanted, but “Fog Machine” has the honor of being a song that after 2023, I’ll still be listening to and loving.
Turn this up to 11, bruh.
MY TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2023
Ordered again from “least” to “best.” These are all great. The point is to check out all these albums in any order you want, you doofus.
Honorary Mention: A Tie Between Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’s Council Skies & The Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds
This tie and my next two picks (along with my No. 1 pick) are the albums that most loudly scream “Wow Brady you’re a washed-up rock critic with no imagination stop reading AARP so that you can be a real music critic and gush over the new André 3000 flute album instead.” To which I say:
1) You’re right.
2) I listened to André’s flute album once, really liked it, felt happy for André for staying true to himself and not giving into the pressure of releasing a rap album he didn’t want to make, and forgot about the album two hours later. I haven’t felt the need to return.
3) Even with Oasis being my favorite band, I had low expectations for Council Skies. And I still like it! It’s great in the way that an entire album works from start to finish and creates a wonderful and consistent atmosphere even if none of the singles stand strong on their own. It’s great to put on while doing the dishes or laundry. I still come back to this record often, which is a sign of a good album long after the press cycle ends. Who Built The Moon? is still Noel’s best solo album, but Council Skies is a solid second.
4) I also had low expectations for a new Stones album in 2023. I was not expecting Hackney Diamonds to be the first Stones album I could listen to from start to finish in one setting since … Tattoo You?
5) This is my list, leave me alone.
10. Wilco / Cousin
Album That Might Age The Best
The last Wilco album, Cruel Country, was the first new Wilco album that I didn’t include in my annual list of top albums or songs. I enjoyed the first minute of Cousin opener “Infinite Surprise” more than all of Cruel Country. I also enjoyed the rest of Cousin. It’s a late-era release that won’t change your mind or challenge your perception of Wilco, yet it feels more thoughtful and even darker than their past few releases. Cousin is back on my mind this month since this is a great winter album. Or by LA standards, this is a great album for when the sunsets come sooner and we spend more time in the dark.
9. Blur / The Ballad of Darren
Most Underrated
I knew I was going to like the new Blur album, but even I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Ballad of Darren. This album got rave reviews upon release but quickly disappeared, which is a shame because I think it has a lot to say about the very 2023 feeling that we’re beyond past fixing what’s broke and we’re just shrugging along day by day …. a feeling Blur has been writing about since 1993. Like my Wilco pick, The Ballad of Darren won’t change your mind about Blur, but it might age better than we think.
8. Robbie Robertson / Killers of the Flower Moon Soundtrack
Album That Does The Most Heavy Lifting
I don’t usually put soundtracks on my end-of-year lists. I don’t know how well this music connects if you haven’t seen the movie. For me, these songs by the late Robbie Robertson were easily the best part of this very good (borderline great) Scorsese film. A memorable musical gut-punch that deeply enhanced the viewing experience.
7. Zach Bryan / Zach Bryan
Most 2023 Album
The second-best Pinegrove album.
6. The Clientele / I Am Not There Anymore
Most Pleasant Surprise
The Clientele made some of the best songs of the 20th and 21st centuries, so applause to them for taking long breaks and making great new music that in no way attempts to retread any past success.
5. Mitski / The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
Most Happy To Be Proven Wrong
In a past newsletter, I wrote about feeling nervous about what Mitski would do at what felt like a crossroads in her career. Stay true to the TikTok sheen of her last album, or turn her bass back up to 10? I had a feeling it would be the former. Instead, she did neither. She made a fantastic record that only she could make and which I could not predict. This album was a grower, but when it finally clicked, I was all in. I still am.
4. Bully / Lucky For You
Album I’ll Most Likely Still Listen To After End-Of-Year List Season
Often when I’m done with all this end-of-year nonsense, I want to move on to the next batch of new albums. Lucky For You is Bully’s best album, but it didn’t blow me away at first. And yet. I kept coming back to it throughout the year, enjoying it more and more with each new listen. Now I check it out whenever I’m working on freelance assignments or other work. Even as I write this list, I’m loving this album even more. I can’t wait to listen again.
3. boygenius / the record
Most Improved
I started 2023 wanting nothing to do with the omnipresent and annoying boygenius hype. I ended 2023 profiling boygenius and falling in love with the record. Life is weird.
2. Wishy / Paradise EP
Rookie Of The Year
I sadly can’t share all my thoughts yet on Paradise because 1) This technically isn’t out yet 2) I’m working on an assignment that involves writing about Wishy and this EP. For now, I’ll just repeat all my previous praise: Paradise is 1000% my jam, and this is jam done so so so well.
1. The Replacements / Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)
The Album I Genuinely Loved The Most In 2023
Like Wishy, I also have to wait to share all my thoughts about one of the best “remix” albums I’ve ever heard since it’s related to an assignment I’m still working on. But damn, the hype was real. This is a revolutionary restoration of Tim (already an incredible album) that absolutely counts as a new 2023 album. If it doesn’t count, I don’t care. Ed Stasium’s remix is easily the album I loved the most in a mostly quiet music year in which I spent most of my energy focused on moving (twice!) and navigating a tough yet rewarding career transition that puts me back to doing the work that I love the most. In my best and worst moments of 2023, Tim (Let It Bleed Edition) was there for me. Thank you, Tim.
What an album!
And … that’s it! What a year. Happy 2023, y’all.
Until a future Wednesday in 2024, likely in mid-January or early February. Happy holidays and stay safe.
Like this newsletter?
Here’s how you can help (financially)
Subscribe to a paid version of this newsletter. Here’s what you get with each paid tier:
NONE/FREE: STOP BY AND SAY HELLO (GIVE YOUR ATTENTION)
Each week, I send out this newsletter that curates a link round-up of the best things I read, and music reviews about new releases and hidden gems (good and bad) you should know about. If you’re a fan of the newsletter yet are unable to pay for a subscription, you can still help out by sharing OPE! with your friends and family (see the end of this newsletter for more).MONTHLY: BUY ME A CUP OF COFFEE (SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION)
I send out OPE! once a week on Wednesday mornings, give or take a few weeks throughout the year when I’m out for vacation or sick. In the end, that amounts to about four newsletters a month. This means that $5 breaks down to $1.25 per newsletter. To me, that’s like buying me a cup of black coffee (my preferred caffeine style) for each newsletter. Subscribing to this tier is your way of saying, “Hey, I appreciate you taking the time to put together this newsletter each week—here’s a cup of coffee to help you make the next one.”ANNUAL: BUY ME LUNCH (LET’S TALK WRITING)
As opposed to a monthly subscription, paying one large amount upfront for a year is like buying me lunch. In this case, “lunch” is a chance to connect and network. Once you sign up for this tier, I’ll reach out to schedule one (1) optional phone call in which we can talk about anything regarding writing and freelancing advice. Subscribing to this tier is you saying, “Hey, I appreciate your work and what all you do—I want to buy you lunch and pick your brain about any insights you have into music, writing, and freelancing.” And when the year’s subscription renews, we can schedule another call.COLLABORATIVE MEMBER: BUY ME DINNER (LET’S WORK TOGETHER)
The “Collaborative Member” yearly subscription means that you and I get to work on something together. In addition to one optional networking phone call per year, subscribing to this tier will allow me to help you with one (1) optional writing project. This can be me reviewing and giving feedback on any essays, pitches, or general ideas you’re working on. This tier has a minimum base rate, but the more money you can contribute upfront, the more time and effort I can set aside for you. Same deal with the previous tier: When the year’s subscription renews, we can schedule another call. I charge a lot more for my normal freelance writing and consulting, so setting up some time with me through OPE! nabs you a nice discount.
If you’re not in a place to subscribe but want to throw a few dollars my way, you can always donate to my coffee fund, where the money goes toward buying coffee beans and filters. (Substack’s use of Stripe for subscriptions includes a lot of fees; if you prefer to give a one-time donation through this PayPal fund, you can share more of your generosity.)
Here’s how you can help (for free)
Consider me for freelance writing work. In addition to music journalism, I’m available for digital copywriting and content marketing (writing SEO-friendly blog posts, articles, press releases, blurbs, and more about WCAG accessibility, UX vs UI, and SEO), technical writing (writing SOPs and technical documents like my beginner’s guide to ChatGPT’s API), and bio writing (writing long and short bios for artists and other professionals). Shoot me an email at bradywgerber@gmail.com and we can talk more. I also have more information on my website and LinkedIn.
If you don’t need a freelance writer but know someone who does, send them my way and give a recommendation.
Sign up for this newsletter for free!
Heart, comment on, or repost this specific newsletter post; see the buttons at the top of this page.
Share this newsletter on one of your social media feeds.
Share this newsletter directly with one of your friends, family members, or colleagues.
Seriously, y’all sharing this newsletter is how OPE! grows the most. Sharing is caring.
Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. (For LinkedIn, please include a connect note saying that you found me through this newsletter.) OPE! is also on Facebook and Bluesky.
With love and all the other good things,
-b
website | donate to my coffee fund | find your local reps
Original OPE! logo by Claire Kuang. words and cartoons by yours truly. stock photos by Substack unless credited. animations made using FlipaClip and EZGIF. all typos are intentional.