Teenage Halloween made one of our favorite punk albums of 2023 with Till You Return (Don Giovanni), and before we say goodbye to 2023, vocalist/guitarist Luk Henderiks and guitarist Eli Frank have made us a list of their favorite albums of the year. It includes Taking Meds, Hotline TNT, Maura Weaver, and more, with commentary on each pick, and you can check out what they had to say below.
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Teenage Halloween’s Favorite Albums of 2023
Luk’s picks:
I Was Due for a Heartbreak by Maura Weaver
These are some of the most honest songs I’ve heard in awhile. They have this absolute humility and do exactly the right things for the soul. I think it’s the perfect pop record for a forlorn and longing 2023. It’s been a weird year, and this record brings those feelings to life.
Super Snõõper by Snõõper
I think this is the ultimate punk rock record. It’s like drinking ten pounds of caffeine and running through a downtown – a workout to listen to in the best way. The subject matter is sometimes whimsical but it also constantly reflects the world at large.There’s absolutely nothing I’d rather do than listen to this record on repeat for hours.
Dial M For Meds by Taking Meds
A perfect take on power pop from a band who didn’t play that type of music to begin with. Taking Meds has shifted genres in one of the most tasteful ways I’ve seen ever. Can’t wait to hear what happens next.
Omnipresence by Blemish
Blemish are an incredible mix between grindcore and death metal. With very low end heavy guitar parts, blasting drums and Ken’s growls, they’ve created a sound that has helped define this new heavy music coming out of Jersey’s that isn’t necessarily hardcore. A Garden State feat! Very proud of my friends.
Eli’s pick:
Cartwheel by Hotline TNT
Girl With Fish by Feeble Little Horse
This year had a ton of solid shoegaze releases. These are two of my favorites. Hotline TNT knows how to hook you in and the production is just lofi enough without sacrificing audio quality. Feeble Little Horse does the shoegaze thing but in a much different way, bringing in experimental vibes and palm-esque sensibilities.
