Top 50 Albums of 2023

Celebrating another amazing year of music

Another year has passed, and another incredible batch of music has been released over 2023’s 365 days. Whimsical chamber pop, guttural hardcore punk and glamorous nu-disco highlight the amalgamation of genres found in this vast list of 50 projects. Within this behemoth of a list is a project you will love, I guarantee it. I won’t delay any further, as we are all here for one reason; the following are the top 50 albums of 2023:

50. Generational Curse – ICECOLDBISHOP

ICECOLDBISHOP pays clear homage to west-coast legend Kendrick Lamar on his newest album, borrowing the new-age old school aesthetics of projects like GK,MC and TPAB. Witty lyricism backed with clever features and ice-cold production lead to a hip-hop release in Generational Curse that honorably follows in the footsteps of many great Californian MCs.

49. Norm – Andy Shauf

One of Canada’s greatest contemporary songwriters returns with Norm, an album focusing on an obsessive, troubled man, and his own internal monologue. Speaking through Norm’s perspective allows Shauf to apply his typically luscious baroque pop instrumentals with creepier song topics, creating a dichotomy that unfolds throughout this intriguing indie project.

48. Struggler – Genesis Owusu

Australian experimentalist Genesis Owusu continues to evolve his sound in 2023’s Struggler. While branching further into the dance punk aesthetics of the 80s, the record maintains a pulsating rhythm as its cohesive vision builds like a snowball rolling down hill. Full of excellent genre switches and introspective moments, Struggler is a perfect entry point for music listeners looking to branch into contemporary neo-soul.

47. I Killed Your Dog – L’Rain

Brooklyn experimentalist L’Rain’s I Killed Your Dog is a wonderful balance between ambience and beautiful R&B centric experimental cuts. Continuing to expand on what is considered R&B music, L’Rain’s clever production style and explorative sonic nature create a project whose impact grows upon each listen.

46. The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We – Mitski

Taking it back to her guitar-centric roots, Mitski’s The Land is Inhospitable is a patient, reflective and gorgeous record filled with group vocals, ascending harmonies and luscious instrumentals. Although it misses some of the up-tempo charm of her recent releases, it is her slower more methodical approach to songwriting that bolsters this album to be one of the best indie records of 2023.

45. This is Why – Paramore

Legendary pop-punk group Paramore switches up their style in 2023’s This is Why. The group ponder the mundanity of 2020s living, using post rock inspired instrumentals in place for their typical pop-punk aesthetics. The switch leads to several alt rock bangers, as vocalist Hayley Williams fits perfectly within these cutting, math-rock tracks. The anthemic choruses grab your attention, while the blistering instrumentals keep you coming back for more.

44. Isn’t It Now? – Animal Collective

The 12th studio album from neo-psych outfit Animal Collective sees the group indulging deeper into the experimental isms that were sprinkled within 2022’s Time Skiffs. Isn’t It Now? has everything one desires in an Animal Collective record; psychedelic improvisation, group vocals, and surprising melody shifts that make single songs feel like entire journeys themselves. They’re making the music they want to, ‘isn’t it now’ time to put Animal Collective back in your rotation?

43. Nico Paulo – Nico Paulo

Portuguese-Canadian vocalist Nico Paulo’s debut album is a luscious blend of romantic art-pop tracks and solo instrumental ballads. While borrowing from the popular sounds of her two homes (Lisbon and St. John’s), Paulo strikes that perfect harmony between rhythmic grooves and awe-inspiring vocal performances. A must-listen for the baroque pop aficionados among us.

42. Titanic - Vidrio

This jazz/chamber pop fusion is a wonderful listen, full of dizzying instrumentals featuring impressive vocal technique and sonic variety. Titanic blends Latin jazz touches and dream-like chamber instrumentation to create one of the most unique art pop albums of 2023. The underground scene is filled with Latin/Spanish groups pushing genre boundaries, and Vidrio are firmly in that mix.

41. Live at Bush Hall – Black Country, New Road

London based Black Country, New Road return with their first album without former front man Isaac Wood. The album certainly misses his vocal delivery and lyrical talent, as the instrumentals carry this record with the shared vocal responsibility between the remaining band members. Highlights exist in this live album, and it is still a great art rock record; it just doesn’t hit the extremely high standards of their previous two albums.

40. Cousin – Wilco

Indie-rock legends Wilco return with their best batch of tracks in years. Not stepping too far outside their comfort zone, Cousin is full of the country-tinged indie folk and rock fans have eaten up for years. Tweedy and co. turn back the clock, letting whimsical instrumentation back their melancholic ballads and proclamations of love. Dad-rock ain’t goin’ nowhere, especially with these veterans at the helm.

39. Head of the Love Club – Gretel Hanlyn

Grunge is back! Gretel Hanlyn’s new album Head of the Love Club combines alternative rock aesthetics with the early 90s heavier elements made famous by Nirvana and others. A lovely blend of low tempo slowcore jams are mixed into the up-tempo rockers, making this short album an emotional rollercoaster. The emphatic highs get the blood pumping, while the romantic ballads warm the heart.

38. VOIR DIRE – Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist

Ah yes, one of the best modern rappers and one of the premier modern hip-hop producers have combined here in VOIR DIRE. Tasteful soul samples are sprinkled throughout, allowing Earl Sweatshirt’s heady lyricism to glide across the track-list like a figure-skater on a freshly zambonied surface. Excellent features keep the good times rollin’, while two of experimental hip-hops great’s craft a sonic environment perfect for introspection and jazzy snap-claps.

37. i’ve seen a way – Mandy, Indiana

‘Post Punk’ is a very loose descriptor for this transfixing project. A violent blend of experimental music genres, i’ve seen a way never gets comfortable with itself, as it consistently shifts its sonic palette to new extremes. French spoken word passages accent the transcendent qualities of the project, while maintaining a sense of order over the chaotic grooves. Oddly danceable and eerily intoxicating, experimental music fans should consider this project a must listen.

36. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips – Armand Hammer

Underground favourite Armand Hammer do what they do best on We Buy Diabetic Test Strips. Smooth jazz backed hip-hop tracks are paired side by side with zany, barely cohesive experimental spoken word licks that make justified political statements over SpongeBob samples. billy woods and ELUCID follow the recipe that has led them to such admiration and success within abstract hip-hop circles worldwide.

35. My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross – ANOHNI and the Johnsons

ANOHNI and the Johnsons return with a socio-politically charged chamber rock record who’s emotional impact is just as heavy as its instrumental depth. Taking inspiration from jazz legends Nina Simone and Jimmy Scott, My Back Was A Bridge for You To Cross features raw, impassioned vocals backed by expansive chamber rock instrumentals. The scale of the music mimics the importance of social change, especially for those who have been left in the shadows for the majority of human civilization.

34. Objects Without Pain – Great Falls

Heavy, menacing, and depraved. The new record from sludge metal veterans Great Falls features incredible rhythm sections that border on prog, while maintaining the anxiety filled power chord energy from minute 1 to 53. Some of our darkest feelings blast through this complex record, where the intricacies of the human emotional spectrum explode in one of 2023’s premier metal projects.

33. Hit Parade – Róisín Murphy and DJ Koze

The 6th studio album from Irish vocalist Róisín Murphy is an electric dive into the depths of deep house and art pop. Produced primarily by DJ Koze, Hit Parade treads the line between EDM and futuristic ambient electronica, heavily bolstered by the powerful vocals of the veteran vocalist. The record proves to be a true taste of how art pop and house music can blend, creating a sonic parade that truly lives up to the name of its title.

32. Utopia – Travis Scott

One of the biggest hip-hop releases of the year proves to be one of its best. Utopia combines smooth soul melodies with punchy old-school beats that are tied together with Travis Scott’s typical psychedelic hue. Compelling features from Teezo Touchdown, Drake, Sampha and others help balance this latest record from the genre defining Houstonian.

31. After the Magic – Parannoul

Sometimes the true meaning of foreign albums can get lost in translation, and I unfortunately, do not speak Korean. However, with After the Magic, Korean mystery musician Parannoul creates a shoe-gaze odyssey whose luscious textures portray the message clearly; The self belief we all crave is within us, no matter how deep below the surface. Sometimes music requires blunt lyrics to get its message across. In Parannoul’s case, the dream-like world built within the instrumentation does all the talking.

30. Space Heavy – King Krule

Slowcore (as a genre) has its early roots with psychedelic rock, but no current artist better mixes these atmospheric genres like Britain’s King Krule. The underground legend expands on the maturity of his sound on Space Heavy, letting empty space bleed into his songs, which puts emphasis on the luscious instrumentals as they unfold throughout the project. Don’t let the calendars switch over without allowing some time to appreciate this wonderful, patient, piece of music.

29. Desolation’s Flower – Ragana

Contemporary black metal continues to embrace the sonic elements of traditionally softer genres, and on Desolation’s Flower, Ragana ramp up this momentum. Replacing the shoegaze-aesthetics popular to the current ‘black-gaze’ wave, this doom metal duo use empty space to mimic the emotional depth of the material being delivered. The result is a powder keg of emotional vulnerability, where the problems of marginalized groups are escalated to a volume that is impossible to ignore.

28. Lahai – Sampha

Oh, how smooth it is! The six year wait for Sampha’s second LP was entirely worth it, as the British R&B artist returns with a luscious collection of grooby music. Using brilliant IDM-esque rhythms to up the tempo when necessary, Lahai enchants the listener as Sampha delivers lyrically dense modern soul jams. As Sampha continues to evolve as an artist, it will be interesting to see how he helps push R&B into its next conceptual milestone.

27. Wallsocket – underscores

Wallsocket is a pop/rock hybrid that is unmistakably meta, while contemplating the ins and outs of young adulthood in the age of gen-z. Incredibly precise production backs these glitchy, experimental tracks all written and performed by April Harper Grey, herself. Her unique background in dubstep and industrial music creates a thematic and sonic universe that is both incredibly tight and batshit crazy at the same. Any fans of the current hyperpop wave should be giving this record a spin.

26. Desire, I Want to Turn into You – Caroline Polachek

One of the most popular indie projects of the year deserved its attention, as Desire, I Want to Turn Into You is a thoroughly impressive ode to pop music. Containing straight forward pop bangers and more experimentally driven cuts, the album masterfully treads the line of appealing to mainstream and eccentric pop fans. Dido and Grimes appear as the only features on this LP, as Polachek lets herself take the reigns on a pop project who uplifts its audience during each listen.

25. Radical Romantics – Fever Ray

Radical Romantics is a perplexing collection of emotionally packed love songs that push the limits of conventional pop structures. Karin Dreijer’s rough, nasally voice are the perfect match for the grandiose and abrasive synth pop instrumentals found in each track. Fever Ray crafts euphoric hooks within these progressively leaning electronic ballads. The result is a fantastic pop album with the consistent stylistic sharpness delivered throughout Dreijer’s discography.

24. Dogsbody – Model/Actriz

The Brooklyn based post punk band’s debut album is a colourful mix of technical ability and musical anxiety. Bizarre electronic punk cuts are scattered throughout Dogsbody, as Model/Actriz experiment with 80s goth rock and no wave sensibilities with the absurdist lyrics associated with 2020’s post-rock. Dogsbody is as much dance punk as it is cacophonous harsh noise, as Model/Actriz prove to be one of the best new bands in this era of post punk resurgence.

23. 93696 – Liturgy

As guttural as it is euphoric, the latest L.P. from the new age black metal pioneer is one of the best heavy albums of the year. Grand orchestral instrumentation supports driving backbeats, glitchy electronics and diverse metal sound structures, providing replay-ability not common for such a challenging project.

22. Cracker Island – Gorillaz

Although overlooked by many critics upon release, the eighth studio album from Gorillaz is a testament to the intoxicating power of groove in pop music. Cracker Island exists without a consistent theme, as Damon Albarn and co. deliver a slick batch of pop tracks whose main link are the continuously pulsating rhythms that persist from start to finish. As per usual, industry wide features spice up the mix, with the likes of Beck, Tame Impala and Stevie Nicks in this super-pop combo meal.

21. Quest for Fire – Skrillex

When I was 13 years old my buddies and I would listen to Scary Monster and Nice Sprites in the boy’s bathroom out of my iPod Touch while sticking plungers on the ceiling. Little did I expect to be doing those exact activities at 25, while listening to the best Skrillex project to ever be released, in Quest for Fire. Full of blood pumping EDM cuts with fantastic features, complicated beat switches and a variety of international influences, the bro-step pioneer proved to me and many others that he is still able to make genre shifting electronic music that simply bangs.

20. Everyone’s Crushed - Water From Your Eyes

The newest album from this Brooklyn duo is confusing, glitchy and overwhelming at times. Classifying Everyone’s Crushed as art rock may not fully capture the bizarre, genre hopping sonic snippets that breeze by in a mere 30 minutes. 80s inspired no wave grooves are interrupted by funky bass riffs, electronic break downs and meta commentary on life in the online age. Often abstract without becoming incoherent, Water From Your Eyes prove to be ones to watch in the contemporary rock scene.

19. softscars – yeule

Shoegaze is back baby! 2023 was full of new artists embracing the sounds of this cherished subgenre. The crown jewel of the shoegaze revivalist projects was softscars, with its muddy production and glitched out instrumentals. yeule is no experimentation novice, as they’ve been a budding underground pop/experimental artist leading the Singaporean scene for the last several years. They’ve hit a new high on softscars, who’s anxiety filled alien love songs and highly textured pysch rock ballads encompass rock n’ roll in the digital age.

18. 10,000 gecs – 100 gecs

Similar to yeule in fact, 10,000 gecs’ songs are gunpowder-soaked capsules of mutated nostalgia, each with their own capture of life in the internet age. Although emanating bands like Simple Plan, Limp Biscuit and 3OH!3 may not be conventional in the pursuit of forward-thinking artistry, 100 gecs are able to hit that sweet spot between deep-fried top-text bottom text memes and genre-hopping bangers.

17. Burned Car Highway Light Volcanic – Panda Rosa

This massive experimental project contains all the elements for a classic of its type. Retro music samples reworked to shine in a totally new context, recurring passages and themes that evolve as the album unfolds, and beautiful droning textures that fade in and out become staples within this behemoth. Instantly comforting and familiar upon first listen, Burned Car Highway Light Volcanic is easily the ambient project of the year, likely to be underrated for eternity.

16. Heavy Heavy – Young Fathers

Being known in the underground for their abrasive, ‘spoken word’ brand of hip-hop, Young Fathers reinvent their sound in 2023’s Heavy Heavy. The project doesn’t necessarily fit a single genre, with stylistic choices ranging from traditional African medleys to full on folk-funk ballads. Focusing on Afrocentric issues within these bombastic instrumentals creates a hypnotizing blend of sonic exploration, with detailed production allowing for new discoveries upon infinite listens.

15. The Loveliest Time – Carly Rae Jepsen

Following her success as a contestant on Canadian Idol, many assumed Carly Rae Jepsen’s commercial peak would be her massive hit single “Call Me Maybe”. 11 years on and the Canadian pop star has continually embraced a vast array of pop aesthetics, including the disco and dance wave influences found in The Loveliest Time. The amount of sheer HITS on this album is impressive, as electrifying pop tracks are brought to climactic highs while Jepsen’s signature falsetto continues to deliver.

14. That! Feels! Good! – Jessie Ware

80’s synth pop and disco aesthetics have exploded in the mainstream once again, which is most certainly a good thing. Beyond the mainstream adapters of this sound exists Jessie Ware, who dives deep into the roots of said genres, utilizing her incredible vocal range within a sexy, danceable blend of explosive pop instrumentals. Jessie Ware may be commercially outshined by other solo vocalists in the UK, but her recent run of albums is simply unmatched, making her one of the best contemporary pop artists.

13. Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? – McKinley Dixon

This highly slept on jazz rap album from Virginia’s McKinley Dixon is one of the top three hip-hop albums of 2023. Dixon’s witty and detailed lyricism pairs perfectly with the glamorous orchestral instrumentals, while reaching the gruff intensity required in the hard hitters. Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? Is a masterful blend of old school soul and alternative rap, where a lyricist of Dixon’s powers is supported by some of the best musicianship found in any 2023 project.

12. Everything Perfect – James Ivy

Indie pop’s rise in popularity has led to an overall dilution in quality within the genre. However, when underground artists successfully blend early 2000s pop rock aesthetics with snappy emo songwriting, a nearly perfect indie pop album is formed. Everything Perfect is packed full of dreamy hooks most top streaming artists dream of hitting once an album, without sacrificing the ethereal, hazy production style of Ivy’s previous work. Without re-inventing the wheel, James Ivy is truly steering the future of pop-rock in the right direction.

11. I Am Not There Anymore – The Clientele

The Clientele use their musicianship and expert melody crafting to form some of 2023’s finest chamber pop in I Am Not There Anymore. The newest release from these indie veterans is a mesmerizing record. The songs feel delicately constructed, with precise instrumental selections that help amplify the dream-like storytelling. It can be difficult to make an ‘airy’ indie-rock record that doesn’t condemn itself to background fodder, but the snippets of musical storytelling packed into I Am Not There Anymore grab the listeners attention for all 63 minutes.

10. 3D Country - Geese

Coming in at number two in the ‘bird-centric band name’ ranking for 2023, is the phenomenal sophomore LP from Brooklyn band Geese, 3D Country. This groove filled alternative rock explosion feels like an album that an alcoholic dead-beat uncle (who happens to be a cowboy) would toss on as he’s on the lam for one last time. There is a truly impressive sonic range found here, including country-tinged art punk tracks with full blown noise breakdowns to amplify the feeling of recklessness this project exudes. An extremely fun rock and roll album that silences any weirdos who still claim that “rock is dead”.

9. Did you know there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey has come a long way from her melodramatic americana roots. Her evolution as a songwriter has been staggering, with poignant writing and delectable instrumentation becoming the norm for every new release. Did you know there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd contains an array of pop styles, with touches of gospel, folk and electro-soul scattered throughout the runtime. The ethereal nature of the instrumentation is bolstered by Del Rey’s whispery vocals, leading to a chamber pop record that is experimental, sweeping, and truly the sum of its parts.

8. Let’s Start Here – Lil Yachty

The Montreal Canadiens making the Stanley Cup Final in 2021 was surprising and exciting, but perhaps not as surprising and exciting as the first listen through Let’s Start Here. A Lil Yachty psych rock album containing 80’s prog rock song arrangements, psychedelic sensual self love odes and reverb heavy synth bangers… all of these are here. The stylistic shift from his then meandering rap career was simply genius, as it allowed lil Boat to gain the excitement of his audience, new and old. I love listening to this thing, and you probably will too.

7. Javelin – Sufjan Stevens

Dedicated to his late partner Evans Richardson, Javelin is Sufjan Stevens at his creative best. This crushing folk record combines the electro-folk elements of Age of Adz, the mournful ballads from Carrie and Lowell and the jingle jangly instrumentation from 2005’s Michigan. For me, Javelin is the most meaningful singer-songwriter project of 2023, with the emotional weight and sonic weightlessness achieved only by Sufjan Stevens.

6. SCARING THE HOES – Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA

A concept album crafted by two of hip-hop’s most creative sons? I’ll take it! Featuring production from Peggy himself, this collaborative hip-hop LP is everything one would expect, and more. Typically outlandish and frequently ground breaking, SCARING THE HOES achieves its title with masterful sampling, witty verses and unreal bar for bar chemistry between Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA. It is certainly not for all fans of rap music, but if you are interested in immersing yourself into the future of underground hip-hop, there might be no better place to start.

5. Everything Harmony – The Lemon Twigs

Although the golden age of soft rock is well in the past, Everything Harmony sees The Lemon Twigs embody all the great elements of the 20th century’s contemporary sound. Witty songwriting with warm, enveloping instrumentals packs this album leading to hit after hit. I cannot think of a more universally accessible album from 2023 that is as creative, repeatable, and mood setting than this record. The vocal chemistry found between the D’Addario brothers lead to many of the best choruses of the year. If you’ve got ears, they should be listening to this.

4. The Beggar – Swans

One of the most integral groups in experimental rock are back, with a monstrous record that pays homage to Swans’ storied past. The Beggar sees Michael Gira contemplating the usual, with godliness, addiction, self indulgence, and inner discipline all recurring throughout the diverse track list. What The Beggar does so well is its encapsulation of the different eras of Swans throughout the last 40+ years. Whimsical gothic folk cuts split up dense experimental rockers, where Gira takes the listener on a spiritual journey that forces one to consider the limitations of the human psyche. Swans continue to push rock music to its furthest reaches, leading to an experience outside of conventional album consumption, closer to the teachings of a man who is on the cusp of achieving immortality.

3. Maps – billy woods & Kenny Segal

Underground rap’s most consistent MC delivers once again, with the best hip-hop project of 2023. Maps is a hero’s journey of sorts, acting as a diary for woods as he tours throughout North America and Europe. Kenny Segal sets the scene with snappy, jazz rap instrumentals, combining with woods’ witty spoken word delivery style to form vignettes with their own setting and individual focus. As the journey unfolds, woods’ is joined by fantastic guests including Quelle Chris, Danny Brown, and Future Islands’ Samuel T. Herring. This record sees woods focusing less on socio-political issues, instead brightly praising New York City for providing the comfort and familiarity he craves after long tenures on the road. Maps is another incredible hip-hop project from the brain of billy woods, a man who has gone beyond the commercial limitations of underground music, becoming one of the most integral rap artists of the 21st century.

2. Harvest – Poison Ruïn

Albums are frequently praised for sounding “ahead of the curve”, for experimenting in ways that take a genre to an unexpected, new horizon. Others are considered “throwbacks”, for capturing a sound many believe to mimic the styles of music past. Poison Ruïn incredibly achieve both on this record, with a bizarre blend of middle-age mysticism, sludgy punk, and blunt expressionism. The music on this record

is full of exhilarating guitar passages, punishing rhythm sections and euphoric punk rock hooks. The purposefully fuzzy production leads to a “found footage” aesthetic that makes the listener feel as if they’re listening to an album found in a capsule collected 1000 years in the past, or a millennium in the future. Harvest combines the best elements of old school punk and theatrical storytelling, resulting in the most enjoyable rock record of 2023.

1. The Lamb as Effigy – Sprain

This album is not for everyone. In fact, I would wager that this album will offend many unsuspecting listeners hoping to hear some standard alt-rock. Instead, The Lamb as Effigy is as complex as the human psyche, acting as a sonic explosion of the deepest impulses that lay dormant within all of us. The instrumentals, lyrics and production are harsh, dense, and dizzying, combining to assault the listener over its 90-minute run-time. There are short bursts of hardcore experimental rock, each with pummeling instrumentation that ranges from dissonant no wave to theatrical glam rock with ominous piano passages sounding like a composer from hell. The unique blend of distorted classical instrumentation and spoken word ramblings create a sense of anxiety that isn’t broken until the closing track, where a drone backed mental breakdown unfolds like an overzealous smile slowly turning into a maniacal grin. The Lamb as Effigy is an achievement of artistic cruelty, where our darkest compulsions explode onto a sonic canvas, contemplating the interplay between the grotesque and the divine.

We hope you enjoyed our rankings for 2023, here's to another amazing year of music ahead.

• Beautify Sounds

10,000 gecs - 'Internet Age' The Album

Published 04/01/2023 - Reid Kyle

100 gecs packs nostalgia into their genre-blending sophomore LP, existing as a hyper-pop time capsule for the early 21st century.

For as long as I can remember, “back in my day” and “kids these days” discussion points have been as ever-present as taxes, oxygen, and Toronto Maple Leafs' postseason disappointments. Comparing one’s generation to another is a universal coping mechanism used to compensate for lost time and the fading memories of youth. No matter your generation, you have, or at one point, will turn your nose up to a member of a generation who will return the favour. Luckily (or unluckily) the cultural and societal borders separating generational groups have been largely dissolved, thanks to the globally accessible and incorporated world wide web. Music-wise, the internet has given listeners infinite access to their favourite genres, artists, and albums, resulting in a golden age for music nerd types to shove as many sound waves into their ears as possible. Beyond increased access, the internet has led to the accelerated evolution of contemporary music genres and the creation of brand-new genres altogether.

Aged 29 and 28 respectively, millennial Missourians Dylan Brady and Laura Les of 100 gecs have grown up alongside the internet. On their sophomore LP 10,000 gecs, the duo embraces the underbelly of the mid-2000s pop music scene and blends it with the over-the-top hyper pop stylings of their debut. The result of this clash is a hilariously joyful and raucous 26 minutes featuring ska, nu-metal, punk, and other variants of hardcore and pop genres.

When pressing play on the opening track ‘Dumbest Girl Alive’, the listener is welcomed back to early 2000s nostalgia with the iconic THX bass tone. Seemingly sucking the audience back to a comfortable view of their VHS built-in childhood tv set, the moment is shattered by blaring guitar chords accompanied by aggressively mixed drum and bass. The heavy, ‘in your face’ instrumentation alongside its self-deprecating and often absurdist lyrical content sets the tone for the rest of the album. The next track ‘757’ is a more familiar 100 gecs hyper pop number which sticks to what the group did so well on their debut LP. It acts as a glitchy bridge between the opening and third song ‘Hollywood Baby’, whose whiny chorus croons remind one of 2000s pop punk balladry. The pounding riffs are incredibly catchy and aggressive alongside the autotuned chorus vocals, accomplishing Simple Plan-esque musical melodrama without the eye-rolling that typically follows.

The album continues with ‘Frog on The Floor’, quite literally a song about a frog that has appeared on the floor during a house party. Featuring a kids-bop instrumental and frog ribbit sound effects you might expect from a group like Ween, the track reminds the listener not to take anything 100 gecs does too seriously, especially considering Les’ frequent laughing while delivering the second verse of the track.

A final relaxed breakdown sonically resets the auditory pallet of the album before picking up steam again with the alt-rock anthem ‘Doritos and Fritos’. A wicked slap bass line carries this rhythmic groover, which features a guitar solo and even group chant chorus vocals celebrating the corn-starch heavy snack foods that have spread throughout the earth like a virus. This dichotomy between cherishing the conveniences gained through the Americanization of the world while understanding their negative side effects is woven into much of the thematic content of this project.

No song better exemplifies the negativities of Americanization than ‘Billy Knows Jamie’, a nu-metal rocker depicting a school shooting. While I never thought I would enjoy Limp Biscuit worship in 2023, the style perfectly encapsulates the uncontainable rage and anger released by someone willing to commit such an atrocity. After the full-blown hardcore noise breakdown at the song’s finale, the nods to pop culture continues with the TikTok text-to-speech follow-up.

The weakest track on the album, ‘One Million Dollars’ doesn’t overstay its welcome as a quick 2 min meditation on the repeated phrase of its title, featuring some record scratching and glitch elements in the outro. What follows is sound effects infused hip-hop/rock fusion where 100 gecs embrace their anarchist persona. Between the record scratches, occasional ‘BOING!’ sound and Scary Movie dialogue inserts, a chilled-out braggadocios groove guides us to the dentist's office for the ninth track of the album. Initially appearing as a love-sick ballad describing a person deemed to be an “ass-hole”, the true nature of the song explodes into a ska-revival anthem celebrating the removal of this asshole, a decaying tooth. Oddly straightforward and catchy, the group use “I Got My Tooth Removed” to subvert expectations once again, comically portraying a painful experience with the playful energy of your weed-smoking uncle’s favourite musical stylings.

To wrap up the project, 100 gecs belt out the hyper-popified alt-rock anthem “mememe”. The song sees Laura and Dylan reminding fans that even with their artist/consumer relationship, the two sides will never really know one another. With its own 3OH!3 stylized obnoxious earworm chorus, the closing track ends an explosive project with one final detonation.

The 10 songs on this polished album are gunpowder-soaked capsules of mutated nostalgia, each with their own capture of life in the internet age. Although emanating bands like Simple Plan, Limp Biscuit and 3OH!3 may not be conventional in the pursuit of forward-thinking artistry, 10,000 gecs hits that sweet spot between deep-fried top-text bottom text memes and genre-hopping bangers; time and time again.

2022 - Top Albums of the Year

Published 01/27/2023 - Reid Kyle

Capping off a magical year for music with a celebration of our favorite albums

We'll keep this one simple. 2023 has begun, and it is safe to say that 2022 had some of the greatest musical achievements of the last 5-10 years. Following is a list of Beautify Sound's favorite 50 albums of the calendar year. This list is 100% biased and directly catered to our tastes… sorry everyone, you can't make an omelet without omitting amazing records from a ranked list. Nonetheless, we hope you give this list an opportunity to introduce you to records that may have gone under your radar this year.

Continue reading to see the list of our favorite albums from the previous year, accompanied by a brief description of the project, starting with:

50. Wet Leg – Wet Leg (Indie-Rock)

An infectious indie rock record that keeps the grooves tight and the lyrics blunt. Although displaying similar traits to other bands in their field, Wet Leg project as one of the more exciting groups in the indie rock genre.

49. Three Dimensions Deep – Amber Mark (Pop/R&B)

Groovy R&B/Pop fusion including elements of hip-house and soul music. With highlights including ‘What It Is” and “Foreign Things”, Amber Mark’s debut is a euphoric listen and should be heard by any fan of contemporary Pop or R&B.

48. Sometimes, Forever – Soccer Mommy (Indie Rock/Experimental Rock)

Slightly diverting from her typical late 2000's indie pop aesthetic, Soccer Mommy’s third LP Sometimes, Forever features harsher rock instrumentals, utilizing abrasive production from Oneohtrix Point Never. Consistently imaginative, this new direction for the indie rock darling is certainly one to keep an eye on.

47. Emotional Creature – Beach Bunny (Indie Pop/Pop Punk)

Endlessly catchy and mournfully nostalgic, Beach Bunny’s sophomore LP contains ear-wormy pop punk cuts that never stray far from its early 2000s influence. If you’re looking for coming of age indie pop with sing-along choruses and clean production, Emotional Creature is the album for you.

46. De Todas las Flores – Natalia Lafourcade (Baroque Pop)

Her first album featuring brand new material since 2015, Mexican baroque pop artist Natalia Lafourcade returns with an intimately crafted album reflecting on heartbreak. Featuring swaying orchestral passages, well crafted song structures and pitch-perfect vocal inflections, De Todas las Flores embraces the unknown, and optimistically steers toward a future of possibilities and putting one’s self first.

45. Melt My Eyez See Your Future – Denzel Curry (Hip-Hop/Rap)

One of the most consistent rappers in hip-hop, Denzel Curry returns with a less bombastic, more introspective record leaning into jazz rap tendencies. With his skillful flow switch ups and lyrics focusing on the day-to-day issues he deals with, Curry expands on his impressive discography while keeping fans on their toes wondering which direction the South Florida man goes next.

44. $oul $old $eparately – Freddie Gibbs (Hip-Hop/Rap)

Perhaps his most ‘conventional’ hip-hop record, Freddie Gibbs gathers talented producers including James Blake and Kaytranda to help craft his newest instrumental landscape to spit his usual snarky, confident and comical bars over. Perhaps lacking the replay value or cohesion of earlier records, $oul $oul $eparately remains a great hip-hop release from the bunny rabbit MC.

43. CAPRISONGS – FKA twigs (Pop/R&B)

The avant-pop star’s 2022 mixtape is a melodic expression of modern R&B and house music, featuring dynamic production from guests including Arca, El Guincho and Jeff Kleinman. Described by twigs as a “going out” record, CAPRISONGS focus on trendy features and mood building leads to her most mainstream and approachable release to date.

42. 5 to the Eye With Stars – R.A.P. Ferreira (Jazz Rap)

Jazz rap veteran R.A.P. Ferreira (formerly known as Milo) returns with another excellent batch of moody, melodic rap cuts. Featuring boom-bap oriented beats along with more sparse, jazzy instrumentals, 5 to the Eye With Stars was unfortunately slept on by many hip-hop fans, don’t let yourself be one.

41. Storm Queen – Grace Cummings (Singer-Songwriter/Chamber Folk)

Australian vocalist Grace Cummings keeps it fairly straightforward on Storm Queen. She allows spacious instrumentals with sonic depth to accompany her gruff, somber voice telling stories of love, nature and the frailty of human emotions. A chamber folk album with excellent production, and a great starting point for anyone new to the genre.

40. PAINLESS – Nilufer Yanya (Indie Rock/Post-Rock)

Following her critically acclaimed debut LP, Nilufer Yanya’s sophomore album PAINLESS narrows in on a more sonically direct focus. Focusing on emotional vulnerability, Yanya’s vocals range from dismissive to deeply sentimental while being accompanied by swaggering instrumentals. With a slight experimental tinge, PAINLESS shouldn’t be missed by any contemporary indie rock fans.

39. Fear of the Dawn – Jack White (Alternative Rock/Experimental Rock)

Garage rock’s golden boy returns with another set of impressive experimental rock cuts. Featuring his trademark noisy guitar playing and bluesy aesthetics, Fear of the Dawn sees White progressing his alternative rock sound even further, embracing hip-hop and rock crossovers with precision and sonic cohesion.

38. Heaven Come Crashing – Rachika Nayar (Experimental/Ambient)

Brooklyn-based producer Rachika Nayar’s sophomore LP is a fantastic example of expanding ambient and electronic music to a cinematic level of cohesion and story telling. Blending groovier moments with warm textures and soundscapes leads Heaven Come Crashing to being the standout ambient record of 2022.

37. SICK! – Earl Sweatshirt (Jazz Rap)

Thebe Kgositsile (better known as Earl Sweatshirt) returns with his fourth studio album SICK!, a focused and contemplative alternative hip-hop record. Less chaotic and experimental than previous releases, SICK! sees Earl Sweatshirt embrace mainstream rap qualities while maintaining the idiosyncratic style that led him to be a true pioneer of the previous decade’s underground hip-hop scene.

36. Stumpwork – Dry Cleaning (Post-Punk/Alternative Rock)

The London post-punk group follow up one of 2021’s best albums New Long Leg with this sophomore LP. Although it lacks some of the swagger found in the group’s debut, Stumpwork’s crisp post punk balladry and head spinning spoken word vocals make it one of 2022’s essential rock records.

35. The Forever Story – JID (Hip-Hop/Rap)

Atlanta native JID returns with his highly anticipated third studio album, The Forever Story. With insight to his childhood, community dynamics and the current experiences of a Black American, JID uses well placed features to accompany his excellent wordplay and rapping ability. Containing soulful ballads and aggressive rap bangers, JID continues his ascendency into rap royalty with this impressive concept album.

34. Cheat Codes - Danger Mouse & Black Thought (Hip-Hop/Rap)

A project containing tracks conceived all the way back in 2005, Cheat Codes is a dreary and thoughtful hip-hop album merging the lyricism of Black Thought and producing talent of Danger Mouse. Smooth soul, trippy prog, and warping psych rock samples groove alongside Black Thought and featured emcees, leading to a straightforward and enjoyable record for fans across the vast hip-hop landscape.

33. A Bit of Previous – Belle and Sebastian (Indie Rock/Indie Pop)

The aptly titled A Bit of Previous sees the legendary Scottish indie-pop group returning to their 90s twee and indie-rock roots. Focusing on nostalgia, aging and responsibility, Belle and Sebastian supply a heartwarming batch of tracks that remind listeners why their unique brand of pop music has stood the test of time so effortlessly.

32. Skinty Fia – Fountaines D.C. (Post-Rock)

Irish post-punk band Fountaines D.C. follow up their excellent 2020 record A Hero’s Death with another tight batch of dreary rock tracks, expanding on the sonic pallets of their earlier work. Skinty Fia sees the band reflecting on one’s fear of growing old and bitter, accepting it as an essential piece of the human experience.

31. Death Fame – Quelle Chris (Experimental Hip-Hop)

Focusing on universal topics including life, death, success and failure, Death Fame sees Detroit rapper Quelle Chris reflecting on his journey in the music industry. Utilizing jazzy grooves, smooth soul samples and abrasive jolty rhythms, Quelle Chris validates his high standing in hip-hop’s underground with this collection of 14 tracks.

30. Topical Dancer – Charlote Adigery & Boris Pupul (Experimental Electronic/Pop)

Topical Dancer is a forward-thinking electronic/dance record that critiques modern popular culture as well as it bangs on the dance floor. The Belgian-Caribbean Charlote Adigery combines excellently with her Belgian-Chinese musical partner Boris Pupul, who create a diverse blend of dance music that questions the modern experience, while allowing the quirky grooves to push their message that much further.

29. Ugly Season – Perfume Genius (Experimental/Baroque Pop)

Written in part for choreographer Kate Wallich’s ‘The Sun Still Burns Here’ dance piece, Perfume Genius’ sixth studio album is a beautiful ode to the modern dancefloor experience. Highly personal, stylistically nuanced and frequently wintery cold, Ugly Season expands electro-trance to the depths of ambient and experimental pop, which creates a uniquely delicate listen and a key piece of this decade’s musical evolution.

28. Boat Songs – MJ Lenderman (Indie Rock)

MJ Lenderman’s Boat Songs is a scuzzy blend of indie rock and country that sends the listener to some far away country road. The guitarist for indie bad Wednesday’s second solo release is a great moment in rock that blends popular sounds from folk and country with an experimentally produced finish. Simply put, it is one of the year’s best rock albums.

27. Time Skiffs – Animal Collective (Electronic)

Animal Collective’s Time Skiffs is the band’s best album since the 2009 classic Merriweather Post Pavilion. The nine tracks are an infectious blend of rich harmonies and electropop instrumentals that ponder parenthood and personal responsibility. On Time Skiifs, Animal Collective reach into the roots of what made them so great, enticing fans who may have thought their best was behind them.

26. Marchita – Silvana Estrada (Singer-Songwriter/Latin Folk)

The debut record from Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada is an exceptionally focused and entrancing baroque pop record. Silvana Estrada’s song writing mimics Kate Bush’s grace and wisdom sewn within her debut record. Acoustic ballads backed with orchestral passages accompany Estrada’s idiosyncratic vocal work, leading to one of the best singer-songwriter records of 2022.

25. God Save the Animals – Alex G (Indie Rock)

Alex G’s ode to companionship and faith results in a deeply groovy and heartfelt indie rock album that truly is the sum of its parts. Each song acts as its own anecdote on God Save the Animals, where smooth indie rock guitar licks accompany well produced and written tracks that outline the relationship humans have with animals and God, providing the listener a comfort in accepting the unknowns of our mortal existence.

24. Being Funny in a Foreign Language – The 1975 (Indie Pop)

Potentially my biggest surprise of the year, The 1975’s fifth studio album is one of the best pop albums of 2022. An album with virtually no skips, Matt Healy and co. cut back on some of the pretentiousness of previous work, allowing their wit and topical lyricism to accompany some of the best melodies my ears heard this calendar year on Being Funny in a Foreign Language.

23. God Don’t Make Mistakes – Conway the Machine (Hip-Hop/Rap)

Buffalo, New York’s finest returns with his best crop of underground tinged rap tracks yet. Conway goes harder and more direct than ever before on God Don’t Make Mistakes. Featuring Daringer beats and excellent features ranging from Benny the Butcher to T.I., Conway and co. prove once again that Griselda are one of modern hip-hop’s finest collectives.

22. MOTOMAMI – Rosalia (Experimental Pop/Reggaeton)

Catalonia’s most creative contemporary artist returns with another impressive blend of latin pop, reggaeton and avant-garde experimentation. This concept album sees Rosalia reflecting on her newfound superstardom and the people who helped her reach this sonic highpoint in her blossoming career.

21. The Lakes of Zones B and C – Emperor X (Indie Rock)

The Lakes of Zones B and C is a contender for the most slept on album of the year. A tight batch of indie-rock tracks ranging from ambient soundscapes to folk rock anthems to melodic ballads, Emperor X proves himself to be one of the most consistent members of the indie underground. The Lakes of Zones B and C is a must listen for any rock fans.

20. Fossora – Bjork (Baroque Pop/Experimental Pop)

One of the all time great experimentalists in music has returned with her tenth studio album. Bjork’s Fossora is another sonic evolution in her discography, embracing woodwinds, gabber beats and off the wall production choices. The rich textures and tones mimic fungi and the underground, allowing her stories of isolation, loss, and grief to spread through the hypnotic quality of her signature baroque pop sound.

19. God’s Country – Chat Pile (Sludge Metal)

Chat Pile’s debut LP is a brooding collection of noise rock that is as depraved as it is poignant. The Oklahoman rock group target their particularly gruesome sound to question the powers that be, notably criticizing their lack of action regarding the homelessness problem in America. Centered on the real-world horrors around us, God’s Country sonically mimics that horror with electrifying and fear inducing music.

18. Hostile Architecture – Ashenspire (Progressive Black Metal/Dark Folk)

Focusing on the structure and constraints of a fully industrialized capitalist society, Ashenspire use brutal black metal riffs and grandiose orchestral passages to portray their vision of the modern political landscape with Hostile Architecture. Including Celtic music stylings native to their homeland, the Glasgow based metal group’s unique blend of folk and atmospheric black metal lead to one of the most stunning heavy albums of 2022.

17.It’s Almost Dry – Pusha T (Hip-Hop/Rap)

King Push is back with more braggadocios bars about moving blow, life as a criminal and how fame impacts a man of his nefarious background. With dazzling production from Pharrell Williams and Kanye West (among others), Pusha T finishes end his relationship with GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings on a creative high. Blending modern hip-hop with bling era aesthetics, It’s Almost Dry acts simultaneously as a sending off, and a coke-white fresh slate.

16. When the Wind Forgets Your Name – Built to Spill (Alternative Rock)

The veteran indie rock group Built to Spill returns with a fantastic record blending the talents of founder Doug Martsch with Brazilian artists Le Almedia and João Casaes. When the Wind Forgets Your Name is a combination of American alternative rock with Brazilian lo-fi punk and psychedelic jazz. The result is a catchy, swaggering rock record with stylistic subtleties that lead to a deeply satisfying listen.

15. Crash – Charli XCX (Hyperpop)

In collaboration with dozens of talented producers, pop-star Charli XCX returns with the less experimental, yet still hyper, Crash. Lacking some elements of glitch pop and noise, Crash is primarily eccentric pop tracks that vary in stylistic eras, yet work as a cohesive group of straight up bops. One of the catchiest albums of the year, pop fans need this one in their rotation as Charli XCX continues to prove herself as one of the trailblazing pop artists of the 21st century.

14. Diaspora Problems – Soul Glo (Post-Hardcore/Punk)

Philadelphia hardcore trio Diaspora Problems pull no punches on this experimental hardcore record. Merging rap-rock, post-hardcore and industrial elements, Diaspora Problems sees hard rock depravity being stretched to new lengths while providing poignant political and social commentary. Punk fans will look back on this project as a milestone in the genre’s continued evolution.

13. Natural Brown Prom Queen – Sudan Archives (Experimental R&B)

Cincinnati born experimental artist Brittney Parks (aka Sudan Archives) delivers the R&B album of the year. Blending influences of African electronic, western R&B grooves and expansive song structures, Sudan Archives surpasses her contemporaries with this 18-track reflection of one’s self worth and the power that having confidence instills.

12. I Love You Jennifer B – Jockstrap (Experimental Electronic/Glitch Pop)

The debut album from London based duo Jockstrap is a miraculous achievement for pop music. Vocalist and violinist Georgia Ellery (of Black Country, New Road fame) merges her whisper soft singing and classical string training with Taylor Skye’s abrasive production style. The result is an experimental electronic record that seemingly knows no bounds, striking notes of post-dubstep, mainstream pop and even classical compositions.

11. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar (Hip-Hop/Rap)

The fifth studio album from Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar is a meditative and minimalist take on contemporary hip-hop. Maintaining the conceptual elements of his previous albums, Lamar includes elements of 1990s gangster rap, trip hop, and haunting melodic cuts to drive home the perspective of his world view. Being present, accepting criticism, and dealing with one’s traumatic path are essential building blocks of a joyous existence, as told by an emcee who has already proven to be one of the greatest to ever pick up a microphone.

10. A Light for Attracting Attention – The Smile (Indie Rock/Post-Rock)

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood combine with Sons of Kemet’s drummer Tom Skinner to form the band that is The Smile. On A Light for Attracting Attention, the trio embrace elements of art rock, post-punk, electronica and ambient. The result is a mind warping 53 minutes of progressive rock that embraces what makes Radiohead so great, with technical skill and song writing prowess only met by trail-blazing pioneers of progressive art.

9. Warm Chris – Aldous Harding (Folk/Singer-Songwriter)

New Zealand singer-songwriter Aldous Harding returns with Warm Chris, her fourth studio album. This is the independent folk artist’s best project to date, an indie-folk album with delicate instrumentals, obscure lyrics told through an unmistakable set of vocal chops. As explained on her Bandcamp page, Harding’s music “conjures a singular intensity”. Chock full of whimsical plucky ballads and pensive piano passages, Warm Chris exists as a perfect balance between sensible folk and ambient absurdism.

8. Renaissance – Beyonce (Pop/Disco)

One of the 21st Century’s most prolific popstars returns with a masterful ode to the history and future of dance music. Blending different sub genres of disco and pop, Queen Bey belts banger after banger, showing immense vocal skill alongside well-placed features within masterfully produced singles that blend seamlessly. Don’t let the hype steer you away, it’s worth its weight in gold.

7. Flood – Stella Donnelly (Singer-Songwriter)

One of indie music’s brightest prodigies takes a massive leap forward on her sophomore LP, Flood. Ditching the indie-pop and twee sound of her debut, Stella Donnelly focuses on sonically unique individual stories that combine to encompass Donnelly as a whole. Groovy art-rock cuts with spoken word verses and piano ballads with haunting refrains are only a piece of this haunting masterpiece. Flood is the story of a young artist plunging into the depths of artistic creativity deeper than most do in their entire lifetime.

6. Baby – Petrol Girls (Punk/Hardcore)

The best punk album of 2022 comes from London rock group Petrol Girls. Staunchly feminist, the band express their dissatisfaction with the status quo of modern existence, particularly focusing on abortion, police brutality and gender inequality. The songs themselves are pummelling hardcore punk tracks with time changes, masterful riffs and gutturally screamed vocals. Incredibly catchy while strikingly loud, it is impossible to miss the raw emotion within Baby, one of the 21st century’s essential punk albums.

5. Aethiopes – billy woods (Experimental Hip-Hop/Rap)

The 14th studio album from New York underground rapper billy woods is the best hip-hop release of 2022. Released on his self-owned label Backwoodz Studioz, Aethiopes sees woods on the cutting edge of underground hip-hop, spitting over cut and sewn beats with his signature spoken word flow. The storytelling on Aethiopes is next level, with cryptic tales of generational trauma experienced by those with African ancestry. Aethiopes is a cold, foreboding record that is unconventionally catchy while incredibly witty on the writing front. If you want to expand your hip-hop listening palette, look no further than one of underground hip-hop’s longest tenured visionaries.

4. Big Time – Angel Olsen (Folk Rock/Country)

Angel Olsen’s Big Time is an example of an artist re-imagining their sound in a near perfect way. Big Time sees the singer-songwriter cutting back on the electronics, instead focusing on western rock instrumentals full of sonic depth and intrinsic warmness. With a ten-song track list contemplating death, new experiences, and the freedom of being one’s true self, Big Time is the perfect example of tastefully dishing out nostalgia while maintaining the qualities of an artist who know who she is, and just how much her music has to offer.

3. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You – Big Thief (Indie Rock/Folk Country)

Having already proven themselves to be one of the best groups in contemporary indie folk, Big Thief channel all corners of their creative conscious to craft the smorgasbord that is Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You. Recorded over four sessions all across the United States, DNWMIBIY is a fluid piece of everything that encompasses Adrienne Lenker and co.’s song writing ability. Stylistic choices found on this record range from honkytonk yokel rock, trip hop, psych rock and even lo-fi folk punk. The twenty-track behemoth acts as a ‘greatest hits’ record for the band (albeit with all new material), also as a sense of excitement anticipating the infinite directions the enigmatic group could take next.

2. Ants from Up There – Black Country, New Road (Post-Rock)

In 2021, Black Country, New Road entered the music scene as another promising post-punk group to come out of the UK. In 2022, they returned with Ants from Up There, a record which saw them carve out a sound far removed from the “Slint Tribute Act” appeal of their debut. Virtuosity is the first word I think of when describing this record, which contain numerous orchestral passages within dynamic art rock instrumentals. Balancing the delicate with the expansive, Black Country, New Road use a blend of post-rock, baroque pop and minimalism to represent the mental landscape of a young person trudging through adulthood in today’s difficult landscape. Ants from Up There is the result of a band working as a single body, moving to rhythms that blend into a set of songs that are as awe inspiring as they are grounded in reality.

1. Hellfire – black midi (Post-Prog/Jazz Fusion)

The best album of 2022 is black midi’s Hellfire. This type of crazy shit is exactly what I am looking for in a contemporary rock album. Expanding on the brutality of their debut Schlagenheim and the melodic nuances within Cavalcade, black midi create a 10-track circus unlike anything in modern music. The technically gifted group flex their musical chops with mind bending melodies, arpeggios, horn sections, and vocal delivery. Going beyond their influences of Frank Zappa, Primus and King Crimson, black midi take the progressive rock genre to its bizarre next step. On first listen I was offended. By the fifth listen, I was mesmerized. By the 50th listen, I was certain that this album would go down as one of the greatest achievements in experimental rock history.