Greg Mendez released a very good new self-titled album in May, his third proper release; stream it below. As the year winds down, we’ve been asking artists about their favorite music of the year, and Greg made us a list of his ten favorite albums, in alphabetical order. Read his list, complete with commentary, below.
GREG MENDEZ’S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023 (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Allegra Krieger – I Keep My Feet On The Fragile Plane
I played a few shows with Allegra last year and ever since was dying to be able to listen to these songs on a record. Such great songwriting and storytelling. Nothing is there that doesn’t need to be. Just beautiful stuff.
Good Looking Friends – Wasted Now
Incredible lyrics. They bring such an energy to their songs, memorable melodies and cool chord changes and structures. Been a fan for years now. “Junk Princess” is a highlight for me.
Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me
The chords and melodies just go where my brain wants them to go. I’m a sucker for this particular kind of classic pop tension and release. If I could pick how my songs came out, they’d be something like these.
Provide – For Me
Evan is a Philly cornerstone. Great fuzzy power pop songs, loaded with arpeggiators and vocal harmonies. Some of it’s heavy but it’s all sweet. “Bummer” is constantly stuck in my head.
Quarantine – Exile
Their singer, Jack, is my downstairs neighbor. We traded records and I was blown away. Some of the best hardcore I’ve heard from this year. Short and hits hard.
Shalom – Sublimation
Shalom’s songs just feel like they should exist. I feel like that is one of the most elusive things to achieve in songwriting, because you can’t really try to do it. It either is or isn’t. “Mine First” is one of my favorite songs of all time.
Sun Organ – Candlelight Showertime
I keep coming back to this one. Sun Organ has been putting out great records for a long time now but this one is really next level. It’s heavy and chill and weird and pretty all at once. The guitar parts get stuck in my head for days.
Swim Camp – Steel Country
Tom is a master of atmosphere and this is probably my favorite record of his yet. Great melodies and textures and the songs feel stitched together in a really nice and intentional way, like a quilt or tapestry.
Ther – a horrid whisper echoes in a palace of endless joy
A lot of feeling in this one. Heather has a knack for gorgeous, intricate guitar parts. Intimate songs. The arrangements feel just so but at the same time they’re alive and spontaneous. I envy that.
Webb Chapel – Speeding
I love the songs and the sounds and I love how it’s recorded. It feels like a memory. Has this vaguely 60’s sound to it but there are drum machines throughout. Zack has been quietly putting out music for a while now and it’s all good.
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Greg is touring in 2024, including shows with Squirrel Flower, Snail Mail, and Drop Nineteens. He’ll be in NYC for a show with Drop Nineteens on April 20 at Warsaw. See all dates below.
GREG MENDEZ: 2024 TOUR DATES
Jan 19 2024 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall *
Feb 08 2024 Fayetteville, AR George’s Majestic Lounge *
Feb 09 2024 St Louis, MO Duck Room at Blueberry Hill *
Feb 10 2024 Nashville, TN Third Man Records *
Feb 12 2024 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – Purgatory *
Feb 13 2024 Asheville, NC Eulogy *
Feb 14 2024 Carboro, NC Cat’s Cradle – Back Room *
Feb 15 2024 Richmond, VA The Camel *
Feb 16 2024 Woodstock, NY Colony *
Feb 17 2024 Amherst, MA The Drake *
Feb 27 2024 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour #
Mar 01 2024 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall #
Apr 17 2024 Washington DC The Atlantis ^
Apr 19 2024 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club ^
Apr 20 2024 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw ^
* with Squirrel Flower
# with Snail Mail
^ with Drop Nineteens
