It’s been a very busy and huge breakout year for MSPAINT, whose excellent debut album Post-American has already been landing on year end lists, and who did tons of touring all year with more shows already lined up for 2024, including Ceremony’s Homesick Festival, an Abortion Access Benefit in Nashville, LDB Fest, and shows with Frost Children.
With the year coming to a close, we asked MSPAINT what their favorite albums of 2023 were, and all four members contributed to the list which includes their frequent tourmates/collaborators Militarie Gun, as well as Blind Equation, Caroline Polachek, Gel, Beach Fossils, and more, with commentary on each pick. Read on for what they had to say.
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MSPAINT’s Favorite Albums of 2023
DEEDEE:
Rezn – Solace
A very set the scene then have it completely warp and distort type album. I put this on in the van maybe the most out of anything this year. Reminds me of all my favorite weed metal bands while also being refreshing and unpredictable.
Militarie Gun – Life Under the Gun
Got to give it up to my friends for putting out their best yet. Particularly the sequencing of the album is what i appreciate the most, but love hollering along to every chorus on this album.
Blind Equation – DEATH AWAITS
When I’m feeling extra venomous and need a soundtrack this is it. This is conjuring demons music. True fusion of technology and brutality. I get just as emotional as I feel ready to wield a giant sword when I put this album on.
QUINN:
Caroline Polacheck – Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
I love the the instrumentals and production on this album – a blend of electronic club music and ethereal new age. Caroline’s lyrics range from hilarious to witty to heartbreaking. The vocal performances are incredible. I keep coming back to this album and finding a new favorite song. I’ve watched a few live band performances online that really sealed the deal for me as a favorite this year.
Beach Fossils – Bunny
Beach Fossils crafted that perfect dreamy atmosphere with “Bunny”. It’s one of those albums that kind of hypnotizes me. The instrumentation, engineering, and mixing are spot on. I first listened to “Bunny”while driving by myself to a gig on a cool October evening at sunset. Now I associate that feeling with the album and find it so soothing.
NICK:
Yves Tumor – Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
I think if anyone could qualify as the modern reincarnation of Prince, it would be Yves Tumor. There’s really something quite free about the way they write music. The songs can go anywhere they want, and yet it feels very deliberate and precise. It’s as if they’ve taken their whole musical experience and refined it down to perhaps their most accessible record
Fred again.. and Brian Eno – Secret Life
Definitely one of my favorite ambient records to come out this year. There’s enough going on here though that even the most conservative listeners could admit these are still songs and not just background noise for a museum exhibit. This is the perfect record to put on during a good sunset.
Stuck – Freak Frequency
Stuck is known for their straight ahead post-punk sound, but I feel like I see something in this band that no one else does because I think this record is a huge level up from their previous efforts. While the general textures remain the same, it’s clear they’ve been really tinkering with things below the surface. The pacing, melodies, harmonies and themes all come together to create, what is for me, one of the most concise and consistent records to come out this year.
Gel – Only Constant
I’ve heard more hardcore bands in the past two years than I have in my entire life. Gel still stands out to me, not just because they’re friends, but because they’re just good at what they do. All the ideas feel connected and the tempo changes are just perfect. This is very much a record about a band dealing with their own success, but I think that is very much what endears them to me. Their battlefield is the stage and in a way, that’s how they find out what they’re really made of.
Randy:
Soft Kill – Metta World Peace
Found myself spinning this album more and more as the weather changes and the few and far too brief “fall” feeling months arrive here in the south.
