REVERIE’s Best Albums of 2023: An Empowering Year in Music
afternoon bike ride - glossover
On afternoon bike ride’s sophomore effort, we see the band truly grow into their own. The album offers a reflection on topics not frequently tackled - from the pov of a young caregiver, specifically lead vocalist LIA as she faces her father’s alzheimers diagnosis, and how she finds a level of solace in friendships through audio exploration. The band also succeeds at showcasing multifaceted musicianship - for example, “For the Breakdowns” is a soft folk ballad, while “Nothing in Particular” is electronic euphoria, leading into “When We Were The Same” featuring Oyeme which leans into screamo/emo territory during the outro. It’s a proven case that genre is boundless and the feelings expressed can signify a cohesive project.
2. Boygenius - The Record
Continuing on with the friendship trio’s, we have boygenius and their debut album The Record. Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers all had successful solo careers prior to the supergroup formation, but there is something about the intimacy the three share that make them an unstoppable force together. When they sing in unison, it’s a bond of acceptance and validation for the experiences they’ve shared together or no longer have to feel alone. With odes to Montreal and photoshoots that channeled Nirvana, Cosby Stills & Nash, and on-stage makeouts - this project will be in high regard for many years to come, specifically for inspiring thousands of girls to pick up guitars and make music with their friends.
3. Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
An ethereal masterpiece that only someone like Caroline Polachek could pull off, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You catapulted the star into a full fledged pop icon. Produced with PC Music alum Danny L. Harle, it’s instrumentally slick with infectious pop hooks and exceptional vocal prowess. With an album cover that foreshadows her forthcoming legacy, this is Caroline’s island and we are all here for the good time. The album also achieved to remove Caroline from the hyperpop box - which never really defined her to begin with due to her dynamic career with Charlift, to co-writing a song with Beyonce, but during her pop resurgence on Pang that could have comfortably happened. Instead, Caroline pursues a throwback 90’s sound, minimal arrangements, and sensual vocal deliveries. At the end of it all: she’s just Caroline.
4. Kue Varo and the Only Hopes - Cowboy Witchcraft
Calgary legend, Kue Varo and the Only Hopes, returned from Montreal - bringing back an incredible collection of reflective and emotive ballads that are laced with empowerment and gothic-western flare. The album starts off with the chills-inducing track “Furthest Place”, which digs deep into the psyche for those who have ever felt lost or heartbroken (which lets face it, that’s all of us at some point). Kue continues the journey full-speed ahead (with a new-found love, on their motorcycle) on tracks like “Yip Yip”, and even summons the underworld on “Gates of Hell”. Overall, the album is gothic/pop perfection that showcases how the western influence of the prairies is definitely alive and well if used in the right way - and Kue does just that with ease.
5. 100 Gecs - 10,000 Gecs
No one can make us laugh and dance at the same time quite like 100 Gecs. This album was pure hyperpop chaos with lines like “Got Anthony Kiedis sucking on my penis”, Cypress Hill samples, dentist debauchery, and even a Limp Bizkit nu-meal moment on “Billy Knows Jamie”. 100 Gecs may be a walking internet meme and are never one to take themselves too seriously, but the production style that Laura Les and Dylan Brady have mastered sets them apart from the rest. It’s unabashedly fun for the ragers who are looking for a good time and you don’t have to be cool or part of the “in-group” to do so. 100 Gecs is for everyone and anyone who gets it (or those who are not looking to make it in “Hollywood Baby”) - and that’s pretty rad.
6. JPEGMAFIA, Danny Brown - Scaring the Hoes
Continuing on the train of chaos, we have JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown’s collaborative album that is reminiscent of how our brain feels when we forget to take our ADHD medication. Stacked with samples from the Y2K era, it’s an amalgamation of the past and future (it’s unclear whether they are approved samples? If they are…this album must have cost thousands of dollars to make and for that reason alone, I appreciate the dedication). With JPEGAMAFIA and Danny Brown’s flow complimenting each other from beginning to end, an ode to Kelis’ “Milkshake”, and a Quentin Tarantino-esque album cover - Scaring the Hoes has everything it needs to be an instant classic.
7. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin
Sufjan Stevens has never shied away from vulnerability, but we see that even more so on Javelin. We also saw Sufjan be more active on social media, sharing updates about his health, loss, grief, and serenity that gave further context to the lyrics throughout the album: a true first for the artist who tends to keep his personal life very private. It was a rare time we were able to peek into his psyche and intimately learn about his life, which made this album all the more heartbreaking. With bright and full instrumentation and Sufjan writing, producing, and recording everything on Javelin, this is another piece of perfection in the artist’s discography that lays everything on the table and makes him one of the greatest songwriters of our generation.
8. Water From Your Eyes - Everyone is Crushed
Water From Your Eyes exudes cool from the moment this album opens with the brain-shattering track “Structure”. This energy was translated with a slight edge of quirkiness when they played Sled Island in Calgary this past summer and solidified them as a one-to-watch act for the Reverie team. On lead single “Barley”, the band presents a genre-defying and boundless sound that no one can quite put their finger on. We’re living in a time where a lot of bands sound the same or are inspired by sounds of the past. Being inspired by other musicians will always have its place in an artist’s career, but it’s clear that Water From Your Eyes are coming up with something that is completely their own and difficult to emulate. We’ll be talking about this Brooklyn band endlessly for many years to come, we’re sure of it.
9. Wednesday - Rat Saw God
Feminine rage was…all the rage this year. We saw viral moments of Mia Goth in iconic films like Pearl, Toni Collette in Hereditary, and the music equivalent of that trend had to be Rat Saw God by Wednesday. With “Bull Believer” being one of our favourite songs of the year, it’s no surprise that the cathartic screaming for over 2 minutes at the end of the single, courtesy of lead vocalist Karly Hartzman, was convincing enough to make us run not walk to the record store to buy this album on vinyl immediately when it came out. While it evokes feelings of existential dread throughout, it also has the power to give you the release you need to continue the journey. Life is hard, let’s go play some Mortal Kombat and listen to Wednesday.
10. yeule - softscars
Their most ambitious and vulernable album to date, yeule transports listener’s back to the 90’s. The album pulls from genres that I would stack a mixtape with and gift it to my crush in hopes that they notice me. At the same time, the album reads as a love letter to the self. It’s a reflection of the trauma and scars that one experiences, with an underlay of how to get through those feelings in the times when it feels like you can’t. While the album lays heavier into a hazy shoegaze and layered grunge sound, yeule still manages to interweave their signature future-pop touch throughout. Combine those elements with masterful production and authentic lyricism that reflects yeule’s own life “scars”, taken from their own personal journal entries, softscars was an incredible Ninja Tune label debut that made them a defining artist for our year.
Honourable mentions:
TDJ - SPF Infini 3
Sunforger - S/T
Treeboy & Arc - Natural Habitat
Sunnsetter - The best that I can be.
James Blake - Playing Robots Into Heaven
Overmono - Good Lies
Thy Slaughter - Soft Rock
Sextile - Push
Skrillex - Quest for Fire
CRi - Miracles
Baby Jey - Crop Circles