DalekTurret32

We're now at the Top 10 #10. UK Grim by Sleaford Mods The aesthetic of punk with electronic elements from their last two albums shows up, but some of the bass guitar tones from their mid-2010s work come in too (and more frequently than on Spare Ribs), like on “Pit 2 Pit”, where the bass plays over a fast-paced rhythm similar to some cuts off Divide And Exit. I also liked the guest features on here, Florence Shaw of Dry Cleaning coming up on “Force 10 From Navarone” was unexpected, but even moreso, was Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction on the banger “So Trendy”. Fave Tracks: “So Trendy”; “Pit 2 Pit”; “On The Ground” #9. Quaranta by Danny Brown Not too long after his collab album with JPEGMAFIA, Danny Brown puts out his own studio album. On the LP, he opts for a more chiller vocal style compared to the manic yelling style found in previous albums (though that voice still comes up on a few cuts like “Tantor”). The soul style beats are quite soothing as Danny Brown reflects on his past life, drug abuse, his status in the rap game and how much has changed since his XXX album came out. The second half of the album especially hits deep. Fave Tracks: “Jenn’s Terrific Vacation”; “Hanami”; “Celibate” #8. Off Planet by Django Django The new album from Django Django Unchained Unchained serves as a love letter to the dance music of the 80s and the 90s (like Disclosure’s album that popped up in the list earlier on), blending together elements of breakbeat, rave, garage house and acid house to wonderful results. There’s also some jazz elements to be found, such as the timbres in the piano solo near the end of “Complete Me” and that saxophone giving off a Comet Is Coming vibe in “Black Cadillac”. The synths on this LP are vibrant and lushly produced. This went through a similar EP rollout to Beach House's Once Twice Melody, but like with that album, I waited for the whole thing to drop before I could listen to it. That way, I would get the most complete experience possible (and I did). Fave Tracks: "Dumdrum"; "A New Way Through"; "Don't Touch That Dial"; "Slipstream"; "No Time" #7. Dead Club City by Nothing But Thieves Carrying over from the dystopian universe concept of Moral Panic, the listener now gets taken to a hidden underground society possibly within that universe. I’ve got to say, I really admire the synth-driven aesthetic of this album. The album kicks off with a funky bass guitar which not only bears a striking resemblance to the one from The Weeknd’s Sacrifice, but also has a bit of a Daft Punk vibe to it. Other styles include The Thieves’ own style of garage rock, but also heartland rock on “Overcome”, blues rock on “City Haunts” and psychedelic pop on “Foreign Language”, all of which helps add some versatility to the LP. Fave Tracks: “Welcome To The DCC”; “Tomorrow Is Closed”; “Pop The Balloon” #6. That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware While the previous album What’s Your Pleasure was dominated by 80s throwback sounds, this one goes further back in time to the 70s, blending soul, funk and disco to smooth sounding results. Is Jessie a timelord or something? If so, cannot wait for her to go 60s Motown on the next joint! There’s lotsa bongos in the album! Lotsa bongos is cool! Fave Tracks: "Shake The Bottle"; “Pearls”; "Begin Again"

#20. Alchemy by Disclosure Through a soaring, exuberant atmosphere, Disclosure deliver a love letter to the electronic dance music of the past decades, taking in elements from multiple styles of music such as UK garage, breakbeat and dubstep. Fave Tracks: “Simply Won’t Do”; “Higher Than Ever Before”; “We Were In Love” #19. Space Heavy by King Krule The new album by King Krule has some of that signature moody vibe as the lyrics look at broken relationships and desolate societies, but the instrumentation aims for a soothing, dreamy atmosphere in contrast to the spine-chilling tones of The Ooz and Man Alive. I also like the chorus effects Archy Marshall integrates onto his guitar work. It gives off an 80s alternative rock feel that reminds me a bit of Sonic Youth in some places. Fave Tracks: “From The Swamp”; “Hamburgerphobia”; “Seaforth” #18. Angels & Queens by Gabriels Through his emotionally expressive voice and medium range tessitura, vocalist Jacob Lusk brings in a 60s style of R&B and soul that is quite reminiscent of the Motown stuff from around that decade, particularly Marvin Gaye. The elements of gospel and jazz were also a nice touch. There's also a few cuts from Gabriels' 2020 EP, but they're re-recorded this time. I especially appreciate the extra percussion line added to the album's version of "Love And Hate In A Different Time" Fave Tracks: "Love And Hate In A Different Time"; "Offering"; "Glory" #17. STRUGGLER by Genesis Owusu More rock oriented than his previous album, and there’s some really energetic moments on here such as on “Balthazar” and “Stay Blessed”, which I can especially imagine going hard in a live setting. The way Genesis looks at his internal struggles is interesting too, especially when he throws in the recurring theme of cockroaches. Fave Tracks: "Stay Blessed"; "Tied Up!"; "The Roach" #16. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips by Armand Hammer After having checked out the Alchemist-produced Haram two years ago, I was quite curious to see what this New York duo would have in store for their next release. Production is more glitchy and experimental this time around with the occasional metallic sound. Having JPEGMAFIA and El-P in the production team was also cool. Fave Tracks: "The Gods Must Be Crazy"; "Don't Lose Your Job"; "N*ggardly (Block Call)"; "I Keep A Mirror In My Pocket"; "Empire Blvd" #15. Exotico by Temples It’s nice to have some psychedelic breeze from the Temples, especially as we get nearer to the long hot summer. There seems to be some cryptic environmental messages in some of the lyrics, as well as the existential theme involving the passage of time. I also thought it was cool that they got Sean Lennon on the production team, whose father was in one of many bands that helped shape the OG psychedelic rock in the late 60s (i.e. The Beatles). Fave Tracks: “Meet Your Maker”; “Cicada”; “Afterlife”; “Inner Space”; “Slow Days” #14. AudioLust & Higher Love by SG Lewis Getting a lot of that 80s night time vibe here, thanks to the euphoric synth pop production on display. The album seems to have less guest features than Times, as SG Lewis’ vocals are more prominent, opening listeners to a wider presentation of his craft. Fave Tracks: "Fever Dreamer"; "Missing You"; "Call On Me" by Tove Lo; "Another Life"; "Lifetime” #13. Lahai by Sampha It’s been 6 years since Sampha dropped the amazing debut Process. Now he’s back with his second album, and it elicits a beautiful atmosphere all around. Sampha’s journey of soul searching and finding love proves to be a fascinating journey, as he offers a piano-driven aesthetic blending elements of ambient, jazz and electronica together. Fave Tracks: “Can’t Go Back”; “Suspended”; “Spirit 2.0” #12. KAYTRAMINE by KAYTRAMINE JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown put out their bombastic collaborative album earlier this year. As if that wasn't thrilling enough, we get another fascinating hip hop crossover album. This time, blending the slick production of Kaytranada with the lyrical charm of Amine. Their chill vibes coalesce together marvellously throughout this album. Fave Tracks: "4EVA"; "Sossaup"; "Who He Iz" #11. UGLY by Slowthai Warning: brief discussion of sexual assault I very much was wowed by Thai’s switch to punk rock and the dark aesthetic (as I brought up just now) that runs through this album. The two singles especially are ones I come back to every now and then (particularly “Feel Good”) This was originally higher up on my list, but two months after the album came out, Slowthai was charged with rape. I am aware that the jury of the trial has yet to reach a verdict, but it’s a bit of a You Won’t Get What You Want by Daughters case, where the albums were delightfully dark back then (and still are), but the allegations/charges against the respective artists affected the way I view the album. Fave Tracks: "Feel Good"; “Selfish”; "Never Again"

#25. Land Of Sleeper by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs I was looking forward to this one considering how much I enjoyed Pigs x7’s previous album Viscerals. This LP bears the usual psychedelic metal from this band, with highlights including the concept of killing a beast in “Terror’s Pillow” and the ritual feel of “The Weatherman” Fave Tracks: “Ultimate Hammer”; “Big Rig”; ‘The Weatherman” #24. Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply Hot Between Worlds) by Yves Tumor Distortion and chorus effects are used on the guitars frequently to marvellous results as Yves Tumor sprinkles their style of experimental rock with elements of 80s goth rock. There’s also some religious references that help colour this album’s lyrical content. Fave Tracks: “Heaven Surrounds Us Like A Hood”; “Echolalia”; “Operator” #23. Cracker Island by Gorillaz Step into a digital dystopian universe, where Gorillaz bring in a synth-driven atmosphere. There don’t seem to be as many guest features as the group usually have, but the ones we do get deliver excellently. Fave Tracks: “New Gold”; “Cracker island”; “Tarantula” #22. Bubblegum by Biig Piig [mixtape of the year] A nice, vibrant atmosphere across the board. There’s some synthpop in here, with a hint of R&B to flavour this style. The way “Liquorice” has this bright 2-step pattern reminds me of Caribou’s Suddenly album in some way. Fave Tracks: "This Is What They Meant"; "In The Dark"; "Liquorice" #21. The Love Invention by Alison Goldfrapp Alison Goldfrapp isn’t new to synthpop, as she dived into this style before on “Ooh La La”, “Rocket” and more recently on 2017’s Silver Eye. This recent take on synthpop results in a lush, vibrant atmosphere that feels almost galactic. It’s in a slightly similar throwback lane to the Jessie Ware album from earlier this year, but with a bigger emphasis on the synths. Fave Tracks: "So Hard So Hot"; "Fever (This Is The Real Thing)"; "Digging Deeper Now"

#30. Maps by Billy Woods and Kenny Segal Pulled me into the gloomy atmosphere. Sometimes the production feels mellow, and sometimes there's some nice drumless beats. Oh, and the jazz elements were a cool touch too. Fave Tracks: "Waiting Around"; "Rapper Weed"; "FaceTime"; "The Layover"; "Baby Steps' #29. Laugh Like A Bomb by Baba Ali A neat synth-driven album with some subtle galactic sounds. The way the album’s soundscape emphasises the bass helps bring out the melody in the motifs, and the weirdness of the lyrics further add colour. Needless to style, Baba Ali’s style of alternative dance is bound to get the speakers pumping. Fave Tracks: "Burn Me Out"; "Laugh Like A Bomb"; "A Circle" #28. My 21st Century Blues by RAYE After many years worth of a messy record label deal with Polydor, RAYE left the label and finally dropped her studio debut. The result comes in the form of a gripping showcase of the dark realities of the music industry, as well as fusing together multiple genres, such as trap, blues, funk and gospel. Fave Tracks: “Hard Out Here”; “Black Mascara”; “Ice Cream Man” #27. My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks Sounds chiller and more dreamy than her debut, and manages to retain the smoothness of that album. The guitars in “Purple Phase” very much have that Mac DeMarco meets Men I Trust atmosphere to them, plus the trip-hop drum pattern on “Puppy” was pretty cool. Fave Tracks: "Blades"; "I'm Sorry"; "Weightless" #26. MICHAEL by Killer Mike I know Killer Mike for his work with El-P as part of the dynamic duo Run The Jewels. I am not as familiar with his solo work, but this was an interesting listen, especially with the way Mike tackles black identity on this project, backed with elements of trap, soul and gospel. Fave Tracks: "MOTHERLESS"; "HIGH & HOLY"; "SOMETHING FOR JUNKIES" Now that we've reached the halfway point, here's some honourable mentions: Turn The Car Around by Gaz CoombesRed Moon In Venus by Kali UchisStrange Disciple by Nation Of LanguageTW2052 by KayCyy (unsure whether this is an EP or LP, but AlbumOfTheYear lists this as an LP)UTOPIA by Travis ScottShook by AlgiersIn Times New Roman by Queens Of The Stone AgeV by Unknown Mortal OrchestraGood Lies by OvermonoCrop Circle 2 by NinesPrize by Rozi PlainChaos For The Fly by Grian ChattenGigi's Recovery by The Murder CapitalEverything Is Alive by SlowdiveMERCY by John Cale

#40. Careful Of Your Keepers by This Is The Kit Folk rock with a nice calming vibe, and Gruff Rhys on the production was a cool feature. I noticed more electric instruments, plus some piano, than on the previous two albums, and they blend well into the primarily acoustic aesthetic. Fave Tracks: "Doomed Or More Doomed"; "This Is When The Sky Gets Big"; "Inside Outside" #39. Playing Robots Into Heaven by James Blake The way James Blake emphasises the robotic aesthetic through beeping sounds and pitched vocals makes for a fascinating experiment. He also succeeds in conveying feelings of vulnerability by embarking this android persona. Alas, I feel like some of the more instrumental beats like “He’s Been Wonderful” and “Night Sky” feel like they remain in a static state through their runtime. Fave Tracks: “Tell Me”; “Loading”; “Asking To Break” #38. Raven by Kelela It’s been six years since Kelela put out an album. She is back, and this time the sensuality and atmosphere are amped up to bigger levels, with a lot of ambience too. Aside from R&B, there were also some nice breakbeat cuts, with “Contact”, in particular, radiating Bicep vibes. Fave Tracks: “Contact”; “Happy Ending”; “Enough For Love”; “Bruises”; “Closure” #37. Bunny by Willie J Healey Willie comes through with an uplifting retro soul aesthetic that results in a nice sunshine vibe to close off the holiday season. There's even some of that bluesy stuff from People And Their Dogs in some moments of the second half like on "Little Sister" Fave Tracks: "Dreams"; "Sure Feels Good"; "Woke Up Smiling" #36. The Age Of Pleasure by Janelle Monae Five years after her lyrically and sonically gripping Dirty Computer, Janelle Monae switches for a more simplistic album, but still offering a good amount of versatility like she did on Dirty Computer. In this case, we get elements of dub and reggae on songs like “Lipstick Lover” and “Only Have Eyes 42”, but also a mix of both traditional and modern arrangements of afrobeat, further emphasised by the addition of Seun Kuti (son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti) to the featured artists. This all results in a short, but very summery album that offers up a lot of sensual vibes. Fave Tracks: “Phenomenal”; “Know Better”; “Water Slide” #35. Javelin by Sufjan Stevens The new Sufjan album carries a gorgeous, delicate atmosphere, along with some beautiful vocal harmonies every now and then. I also like how the piano occasionally has an ambient texture to it. Fave Tracks: "A Running Start"; "So You Are Tired"; "Shit Talk" #34. Girl In The Half Pearl by Liv.e I remember checking out Liv.e’s previous album last year and as much as I admired its lo-fi aesthetic, I felt like a lot of the tracks ran too short. For this follow-up, however, I got a more clear picture of the atmosphere and the vibe. The keyboards give off a smooth sound, and there were some unexpected, but also intriguing, dives into electronic music, such as the breakbeat pattern on”Ghost”. Also, is it me or did Crazy Bus sound effects pop up on the beginning of this LP? Fave Tracks: "NoNewNews!!!!"; "Gardetto"; "Wild Animals"; "RESET!"; "Underground" #33. CACTI by Billy Nomates Billy switches it up on her follow-up, going from the indie rock with hints of americana of her debut to a mix of post-punk and synthpop. Parts of the production palette are reminiscent of that period in the early 80s when some punk bands like The Stranglers shifted to a new wave aesthetic. I’m not sure if I like it as much as the self-titled debut, but it’s currently on equal levels of excellence. Fave Tracks: "vertigo"; "spite"; "balance is gone" #32. Intercepted Message by Osees Quite the immersive space journey we have here! But behind the psychedelic vibe, Osees tell tales of revolt and power that are bound to keep not only the ears hooked, but the brain too! Fave Tracks: "Goon"; "Sleazoid Psycho"; "Intercepted Message" #31. Memento Mori by Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are back after six years, and they return to the dark, industrial vibe of their 90s work. This time, there’s some cool space sounds thrown into the mix. Fave Tracks: “Always You”; “Caroline’s Monkey”; “Never Let Me Go”

Now let's get started with the albums #50. Pain Provided Profit by Conway The Machine and Jae Skeese I’ve heard Jae Skeese on a couple of spots on previous Conway albums, now the two team up together to cook up a short collection of gloomy beat loops with some gripping lyrics focusing on gang violence, trust issues and the ‘rags to riches’ story. Fave Tracks: “Promise”; “Le Chop”; “Metallic 5’s” #49. Action Adventure by DJ Shadow On the same day King Gizzard dropped their galactic trip of an album (we'll get to them), DJ Shadow just so happened to do the same here. Blending elements of synthwave and synth-funk together, but also diving into Hudson Mohawke style trap on cuts like “Witches Vs. Warlocks”. This is also the first project of DJ Shadow’s in a long time to not have any featured artists, which comes as surprising Fave Tracks: “A Narrow Escape”; “The Prophecy”; “Ozone Scraper” #48. Stereo Mind Game by Daughter What makes Daughter’s music stand out is the melancholy atmosphere they convey both in their music and their lyrical themes on mental health. This album carries those feelings, but there’s also a bit of art rock elements in the vein of Nigel Godrich’s production for Radiohead. I can hear that influence on the drum and guitar layers on some songs like “Too Rage”. Furthermore, I like how in that song, vocalist Elena Tonra sings about feelings of anger over calm instrumentation, making for a neat contrast Fave Tracks: “Dandelion”; “Swim Bad”; Junkmail” #47. Worlds End FM by Hak Baker Yeah! It's one of those albums that has a recurring radio concept, but the main twist is that it's set in the apocalypse. Hak Baker switches between post-punk and folk rock wonderfully as he touches on working class struggles and brings some witty cynicism on tracks like "Doolally". Fave Tracks: "Doolally"; "Telephones 4 Eyes"; "Bricks In The Wall" #46. Sundial by Noname Noname’s style of rap infused with jazz and soul gives off a really soothing experience. The fusion of the two styles serves as a positive contrast to the heavy themes she tackles throughout this LP, which include colonialism, police brutality and capitalism. Fave Tracks: “balloons”; “namesake”; “gospel?” #45. Hit Parade by Roisin Murphy Between this album and the ones from Jessie Ware and Alison Goldfrapp this year, we seem to be getting a second wave of synthpop and retro stylings this decade, with the first coming in 2020 (Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, The Weeknd’s After Hours, Lady Gaga’s Chromatica). Main difference is that people can actually go outside and into the clubs now. This one, though, leans more towards an electronic music style, with DJ Koze blending house, R&B, funk and chillout to great results. The chill vibes of cuts like “The Universe” and “You Knew” make this LP a good fit for a beach bar setting, especially during the sunset. Fave Tracks: “The Universe”; “CooCool”; “Hurt So Bad” #44. The Record by Boygenius I liked Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher album, but not as much as the critics did. I bring this up because she is in a supergroup with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker called Boygenius. The folk pop of this first album gives off a warm, calming vibe, and the way the lyrics explore relationships and emotion can resonate with the listener. Fave Tracks: "Satanist"; "Not Strong Enough"; "Anti-Curse" #43. Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes A virtuosic breath-taking jazz experience with beautiful textures, the piano, harp and saxophone standing out the most of those sounds. Some aspects of this album feel fitting for the summertime, and the occasional improvisational moment was also welcome. Fave Tracks: “Black Classical Music”; “Rust”; “Gelato”; “Marching Band”; “Tioga Pass” #42. Food For Worms by Shame I appreciate how Shame mix their style of post-punk with other styles of rock on this album. There’s “Six-Pack”, which takes on a Led Zeppelin-esque hard rock banger form, and there’s also the acoustic driven “Orchid”. The lyrical themes are quite compelling as Charlie Steen sings about feelings of frustration and sadness. Fave Tracks: “The Fall Of Paul”; “Six-Pack”; “Alibis” #41. Voice Notes by Yazmin Lacey Here, we have a nice blend of neo soul and jazz, resulting in an immaculately chill vibe. On top of that, Yazmin offers the occasional reggae-influenced cut, adding to the versatility, as well as some soothing keyboard sounds across the board. Fave Tracks: “Late Night People”; “Bad Company”; “Tomorrow’s Child”

My rankings of each week: W13 Excellent (9/10)i like the way you kiss me Very Good (8/10) Too SweetWildflower & BarleyCinderellaEmpire NowArtstrangerLike That Solid (high 7) obsessedJumpso americansomeday i’ll get it Alright (low 7) Slow It Down 'Tis okay (6/10) Type Shit W14 Very Good (8/10)JOLENENeuronII MOST WANTED Solid (high 7) Magnetic Alright (low 7) Save You A Seat 'Tis okay (6/10) Outside Of Love Mixed (5.5/10) I LUV IT Didn't like (5/10) Lady Killers II

Honourable mentions (EPs):METAL DRAGON: VOL 1 by MAMBANice Idea by Kae TempestA Comforting Nation by HeartwormsMORE UK GRIM by Sleaford ModsP*W*R // PL*Y by GroveYou Okay by Shelf LivesMore Truth by Daniel AverySofa Kings by Royel OtisHigher Than The Sun by Rose GrayThe Architect by Dawn Richard

#1. Real Cultural Shit by Channel Tres My first exposure to Channel Tres was on “Lavender” from Disclosure’s album Energy back in 2020, and I was very much impressed by the style of hip house on display, so I was curious to here what was in store on his works as a lead artist, which leads us to this EP. The fusion of hip hop and house colours most of this project, radiating both KAYTRANADA and SG Lewis vibes (producers which Tres himself has collaborated with), but we also get some nice elements of soul on “Just Can’t Get Enough”. I can definitely see this EP kickstarting the ultimate late night club experience. Fave Track: “6am”

5. Prisoner Of Circumstance by Boldy James and ChanHays I have checked out a couple of Boldy James’ projects since being wowed by Bo Jackson, his collaborative album with The Alchemist from a few years ago. What I like about him is his deep spoken voice compliments the chillness of the beats, doesn’t matter if there’s drums or not. This EP carries a mixture of trap and the nice drumless style that usually comes with Boldy’s works, plus some nice soul samples to boot. Fave Track: “Flashback” 4. Epic The Movie by Cowboyy Time for some energetic post-punk. It’s more of a math rock project, but it still gets the listener moving. Amusing scenarios ensue such as Stanley Powell trying to find his way through Google Maps and a tennis ball that can crush ants. The first thing that comes to mind when listening to this is Black Midi, but Powell assures us that they’re not a ‘rip-off’ of said band, doing so on the track “Algorithmic”. The track serves as a criticism of the music industry and consumerism, and also includes a comment on the minimalist blue cover art and the artistic statement behind it. Fave Track: “Gmaps” 3. Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall by Nia Archives The moment that Brazilian Portuguese chant comes in on the opening track is when the drum ’n’ bass bangers start to kick in (or should I say ‘sunrise bangers’). Nia made it onto my EPs countdown last year with Forbidden Feelingz, but the main difference between that EP and this one, is that Sunrise Bang focuses more on guitar strumming than the dub echoes of the previous EP. The guitars sound soothing and warm as Nia sings about themes like loneliness (“No Need To 2 Be Sorry, Call Me?”) and contemplations on leaving a broken relationship (“So Tell Me”) Fave Track: “So Tell Me” 2. My Eyes Brother by Opus Kink I listened to Opus Kink’s EP Til The Stream Runs Dry just a few weeks after finishing my 2022 EPs Countdown. It gave off the wonderful fusion of post-punk and jazz embraced by bands like Black Country New Road, Black Midi (Hey look! Second time they're mentioned this countdown!) and Squid back in 2021. This EP also falls into this category, but this time, the music feels more hectic and there’s some morbid lines every now and then (but in a good way): from the suddenly loud yelling and unsettling trumpet during the chorus of “Malarkey” to the delightfully dark “Children”, the latter of which ends up as the big highlight of this project. Fave Track: “Children” And my number one EP of 2023 is...

10. Infirmary / Unknown Summer by Kode9 / Burial Came here for the Burial track, but I was really impressed by the Kode9 cut with its moody piano. Should get me to check out more of his stuff 9. We Go Again by ENNY Two years after her fabulous Under 25 project, ENNY is back with some smooth vibes. Her lyrics are also quite intriguing, from dismantling the concept of the ‘conscious’ rapper on “U Shld Heal” to tackling internalised misogyny embedded in the hip hop culture on “Champagne Problems” Fave Track: “Take It Slow” 8. Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 by Aphex Twin In 2014, Aphex Twin came back with the magnificent Syro and towards the end of the decade, dropped a bunch of EPs that were close to matching that level, with Collapse being placed amongst one of my favourite EPs of the 2010s. It’s been a while since that EP dropped, but he’s finally back. This short project gets you soaked into the synth-driven atmosphere, with calming ambient textures being contrasted by more pulsating drum loops later on Fave Track: “in a room7 f760” 7. For The Light Within by Crimson Monocle One thing I like about jazz is that the brass instruments add a lot of colour to the aesthetic of the music and can excel at both slow and fast speeds. This EP, in particular, carries a jazz fusion style, which, according to the act’s Bandcamp page, blends the jazz elements with the ‘timbres of Japanese folk music’, resulting in sounds that are not only wonderful, but unique as well. Fave Track: “Butterfly Wings” 6. Poems To Dance To by Antony Szmierek The beats make for a good late night vibe, switching between vibrant house and chill R&B. Szmierek’s rapping feels like Mike Skinner if he had Loyle Carner’s calm vocal tone. Fave Track: “Rock And A Calm Place”

Let's just get this next section out of the way Top 10 EPs of 2023

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTION Kamasi Washington feat. Thundercat, Taj Austin and Ras Austin - Asha The FirstFat Dog - RunningKanii, Riovaz, Nimstarr (The Heart Racers) - Tell MeJustice feat. Miguel - SaturnineNourished By Time - Hand On MeUnderworld and Kettama - Fen VioletV V Brown - TwistedWu-Lu - Daylight SongEzra Collective - AjalaBaby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim [Eurovision]Jamie xx feat. Honey Dijon - Baddy On The FloorNoah And The Loners - Crash LandingBillie Eilish - LUNCHMount Kimbie feat. King Krule - Empty & SilentGerm - CCBIG SPECIAL - BLACK DOG / WHITE HORSELava LaRue - Push N ShuvPorij - Sweet RiskPARTYNEXTDOOR - F o r C e r t a i nFree Nationals feat. Anderson .Paak and A$AP Rocky - GangstaBasement Jaxx and 100 gecs - where’s my head at _Vintage Culture, Maverick Sabre, Tom Breu - Weak49th & Main - Self SabotageRoyel Otis - Claw FootAlan Palomo and Mac DeMarco - Nudista Mundial ‘89Windows95man - No Rules [Eurovision]St. Vincent - Big Time NothingElje and NOTION - Was It Enough?Pet Shop Boys - Dancing starTommy Richman - MILLION DOLLAR BABYOMD - Bauhaus StaircaseElmiene - Crystal TearsJoost - Europapa [Eurovision]Ladaniva - Jako [Eurovision]Macklemore - HIND’S HALLFour Tet - 31 BloomLime Garden - Pop StarLucky Daye - That’s YouTems - Love Me JejeCharli XCX - 360Declan McKenna - Nothing WorksBrent Faiyaz feat. N3WYRKLA and A$AP Rocky - Outside All NightNick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild GodThe Mysterines - Sink Ya TeethAngelina Mango - La noia [Eurovision]His Lordship - JoyboyShy High - green goblinKaleen - We Will Rave [Eurovision]Kendrick Lamar - Not Like UsThom Yorke - Knife EdgeVampire Weekend - ClassicalHiatus Kaiyote - Everything’s BeautifulKojaque - EASTSIDENxWorries - 86SentraJessica Pratt - World On A StringPublic Service Broadcasting - Broadcasting House (Live At BBC Proms)Future Utopia - Interplanetary SignsGunna - hakuna matataMarina Satti - STIN IYIA MASTravis - Gaslight FROM THE PAST (songs from before May 2023) The Velvet Underground - Sister Ray (1968)De La Soul - Keepin’ The Faith (1991)Nas - Take It In Blood (1996)Queen - Liar (1973)The Game - Put You On The Game (2005)D’Angelo And The Vanguard - Betray My Heart (2014)The Clean - Billy Two (1986)Mdou Moctar - Layla (2021)AC/DC - T.N.T. (1975/1976)Cocteau Twins - Pitch The Baby (1990)Grace Jones - I Need A Man (1977)Nas - You’re Da Man (2001)Can - Vitamin C (1972)Daniel Caesar - ENTROPY (2019)Γλυκερία and Giannis Vasilopoulos - Τα Πεντοχίλιαρα (1985)KC & The Sunshine Band - Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty) (1976)STRFCKR - Waited For it (Skeletron Mix) (2023 [Feb])Lime Garden - Marbles (2022)James Brown - Say It Loud I’m Black And Proud (1968)New Order - Vicious Circle (The New Order Mix) (1993)Donna Summer - Take Me (1977)Kraftwerk - Radioactivity (1975)Saba feat. Jean Deaux - Photosynthesis (2016)Molly Burch feat. Wild Nothing - Emotion (2021)The Doors - Wishful Sinful (1969)Pixies - Hangwire (1990)Bodega Satellite - Asi (2014)Χατζηφραγκέτα – Ζεζαλιζέ (2011)Ηλίας Ανδριόπουλος, Μιχάλης Μπουρμπούλης, Σωτηρία Μπέλλου - Τα Ρεμπέτικά Μας Μέσ' Στη Στράτα (1980)GoldLink feat. Hare Squead - Herside Story (2017)Remy Ma - Conceited (There’s Something About Remy) (2005)A$AP Ferg feat. MadeinTYO - WAM (2019)The Yardbirds - For Your Love (1965)Johnny Osbourne - Truth And Rights (1979)John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom (1962)Rihanna - Kiss Is Better (2016)The Alchemist feat. Earl Sweatshirt - E Coli (2018, but originally performed live in 2015)Don Toliver feat. Toro Y Moi - Cinderella (2023 [Feb])Crocodiles - Surfing With Death (2023 [Apr])Stevie Nicks - Rooms On Fire (1989)

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTION Bob Vylan - ReignMaruja - The Invisible ManNia Archives - Unfinished BusinessKamasi Washington - PrologueEnglish Teacher - Broken BiscuitsGurriers - Des GoblinsErick The Architect feat. Joey Bada$$ and FARR - Shook UpEmpire Of The Sun - ChangesBodega - Cultural Consumer IIIFontaines DC - StarbursterAnna Erhard - Botanical GardenElkka - Make MePozer - Malicious IntentionsChristopha - Back Of The BusUgly - Hands Of ManJohn Grant - It’s A BitchDumb Buoys Fishing Club - FORTUNE TELLERThe Libertines - Oh ShitSabrina Carpenter - EspressoD4VD - Feel It (from Invincible)Benny The Butcher - BRONTeddy Swims - The DoorJalen Ngonda - RaptureGossip - Give It Up For LoveKneecap - Sick In The HeadCaribou - HoneyJ Cole feat. Bas and Central Cee - H.Y.B.Nixer - Saccharine SmileSay She She - Don’t You Dare StopGuvna B feat. DarkoVibes - AmplifyKirin J Callinan - CRAZIER IDEAPersonal Trainer - IntangibleMykki Blanco - Love Fell Down Around MePorij - UnpredictableTainy feat. Bad Bunny - MOJABI GHOSTDom Dolla - Saving UpHozier feat. Alison Russell - Wildflower & BarleyBombay Bicycle Club feat. Nilufer Yanya - MeditateMr Williamz feat. Shy FX and Ms. Dynamite - Dance Haffi NiceCrug - From The StarsMaster Peace - Start You UpJaxomy, Agatino Romer, Raffaella Carra - PedroThe Black Keys - On The GameI, JORDAN - Close To YouKojaque - London LidoBryony Jarman-Pinto - WillowGetdown Services - I Wish It Didn’t Bother MeA Certain Ratio - All Comes Down To ThisYannis & The Yaw - Walk Through Firepoor effort - you’re wrong, i’m right (symphony) FROM THE PAST (songs from before April 2023) Bob Vylan - Wicked & Bad (2022)Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man (1962)The Goodmen - Land Of Haze (1993)Horace Andy - Mr. Bassie (1972)R.E.M. - Little America (1984)Fleetwood Mac - Gypsy (1982)Neil Young - Tell Me Why (1970)Peanut Butter Wolf - Hold Up (1999)Redveil - diving board (2022)Goldfrapp - Happiness (2008)Sepultura - Slave New World (1993)Teen Mortgage - Doctor (2019)Kid Kapichi - 5 Days In (2 Days Off) (2022)Eyedress - Dancing With My Demons (2021)Baby Rose feat. Smino - I Won’t Tell (2023 [Feb])The Orb - Blue Room (Full 40 Minute Version) (1992)Scam - Get Into The Music (2003)Killing Joke - Empire Song (1982)Exociety - Viridian (2022)Nourished By Time - Daddy (2023 [Mar])P.M. Dawn - A Watcher’s Point Of View (Don’t ‘Cha Think) (1991)Phil Collins - Only You Know And I Know (1985)Queen Latifah, Free and Shades - Mr Big Stuff (1996)Dizzee Rascal - Stand Up Tall (2004)Editors - Kiss (2022)Spacey Jane - Weightless (2020)Aim - The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice (2002)Dreadzone - Captain Dread (1995)Tkay Maidza - Big Things (2018)Savage Gary and RoRo - Wait & See (2020)Smiley Culture - Police Officer (1984)Kill Murray - Detroit (2012)The Interrupters - Kiss The Ground (2022)D-Lain feat. Symone - Zone Out (2022)Magdalena Bay - All You Do (2022)Sound Alliance - From Home (Hexidecimal Mix) (2003)The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love (1965)Iron & Wine - Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car (2007)Bibio feat. Oliver St. Louis - S.O.L. (2022)The Beloved - The Sun Rising (1989)Bar Italia - Nurse (2023 [Mar])Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I’m Ready To Heartbroken (2006)Γρηγόρης Μπιθικώτσης - Αφού Αμαρτήσανε Τα Δύο Σου Χείλη (1965)Elderbrook - Numb (2020)Consumables - Numbers And A Barcode (2021)Tek 9 and Rufige Kru - Doughnuts & Ice Cream (Stretch & Enjoy Remix) (2023 [Feb])The Faces - Ooh La La (1973)Koma + Bones - Morpheus (2001)Kate Bush - Wow (1978)The Fiery Furnaces - Single Again (2004)

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTION Yard Act - Blackpool IlluminationsAlfie Templeman - Eyes Wide ShutAesop Rock - Mindful SolutionismChalk - ClawCrystal Murray - PaybackBXKS - EverythingConfidence Man - FirebreakThe Killers - SpiritJalen Ngonda - Come Around And Love MeGeorge Clanton - I Been YoungCumgirl8 - glasshourCMAT feat. John Grant - Where Are Your Kids TonightTkay Maidza feat. DUCKWRTH - Gone To The WestEverything Everything - The End Of The ContenderHome Counties - Bethnal GreenKali Uchis - Como AsiCakes Da Killa feat. Dawn Richard - Do Dat BabySay She She - Astral PlaneRide - Peace SignPLAY DEAD - Damien Hirst Stole My ArtdialE - Like EErick The Architect - 2-3 ZoneFLO - Walk Like ThisPond - I’m StungMaster Peace feat. Georgia - I Might Be Fake21 Savage feat. Travis Scott and Metro Boomin - nee-nahVampire Weekend - Gen-X CopsGreen Day - Strange Days Are Here To StayManga Saint Hilare feat. JME and P Money - Alarm BellsSZA - SaturnJessy Lanza - LimboFISHER feat. Aatig - Take It OffEnglish Teacher - R&B (2024 Version)Lefto Early Bird and Ain’t About Me - I Feel The Pain But I Can’t Describe ItVityal Payal’nik - BamboulaA Little Sound - Back To Back (B2B)PinkPantheress - The AisleBIG SPECIAL - DUST OFF / START AGAINMount Kimbie - FishbrainDebbie - RainDeeper - GlareThe Stolen Moans - Dada CatapultGhetts feat. Shakka - MineGossip - Crazy AgainLuke Dean - Get You Hard (In The Lobby)LYZZA - BlackballArtemas - i like the way you kiss meFred Again, Lil Yachty and Overmono - StayinitKojaque feat. Biig Piig - WOOFFat White Family - Bullet Of Dignity FROM THE PAST (songs from before March 2023) Alfie Templeman - Movies (2019)Madonna - Angel (1984)Tom Robinson - (Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay (1978)Gary Numan - Metal (1979)Jitwam - I’m A Rock (2019)Blur - Advert (1993)Bob Vylan - Take That (2022)10cc - Art For Art’s Sake (1975)Fleetwood Mac - Isn’t It Midnight (1987)The Smiths - Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before (1987)Bob Marley & The Wailers - Survival (1979)Beck - We Dance Alone (2006)Hozier - Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene (2014)Nikos Papazoglou - Μη Μ'Αποκαλείς Τεμπέλη (1978)Rene & Angela - I’ll Be Good (1985)Roots Manuva - Let The Spirit (2008)Black Box - Hold On (1990)Gato Barbieri - Carnavalito (1971)ABBA - Tiger (1976)Mylo - Continental Love (2004)Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA (1984)White Denim - Syncn (2009)We Are Scientists - Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (2005)Eminem - Brainless (2013)Orbital feat. Anna B Savage - Home (2023 [Feb])Thundercat - Lone Wolf & Cub (2015)INXS - On A Bus (1980)Snapped Ankles - I Want My Minutes Back (2017)Peter Gabriel - Panopticon (2023 [Jan])Jethro Tull - Cross-Eyed Mary (1971)King Crimson - Pictures Of A City (1970)Teena Marie - Behind The Groove (1980)SAULT - Why Why Why Why Why (2019)Mikis Theodorakis - Main Title from Z (O Andonis) (1969)Aquasky and the Drumattic Twins - Bring It On Down (2006)Iggy & The Stooges - Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell (fka Hard To Beat) (1973)New Order - Nineteen63 (94 Album Version) (1994)The Shamen - Jesus Loves Amerika (1988)The Who - Out In The Street (1965)Herbie Hancock - Doin’ It (1976)Sans Soucis - Merchants (2023 [Jan])The Commodores - Fire Girl (1978)Cream - N.S.U. (1966)Boz Scaggs - Still Falling For You (1977)Γιάννης Πουλόπουλος - Με Το Βουνό Θα Γίνω Φίλος (1975)Roisin Murphy - All My Dreams (2018)Neztic - Up & Down (2006)Anastacia - Paid My Dues (2001)Roxy Music - Over You (1980)Stacy Lattislaw - Sneakin’ Out (1982)Note: The Theo Verney version of "R&B" appeared on my January 2024 playlist, so I'm going to add a bonus track to my Mostly Recent Section #51. Barry Can’t Swim feat. Surya Sen - Always Get Through To You

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTIONLittle Simz - Far AwayNadine Shah - Greatest DancerFake Wife - All You WantedBeyonce - TEXAS HOLD ‘EMNothing But Thieves - Oh No :: He Said WhatBurial - Boy Sent From AboveIDLES - RoyJustice feat. Tame Impala - One Night/All NightCakes Da Killa feat. STOUT - Mind ReaderSprints - Shaking Their HandsFat Dog - All The SameLutalo and Claud - RunningBas feat. J Cole - Home AloneRicardo Autobahn - The Hands Of Porsche (Helen Love Remix)Shygirl and Boys Noize - Tell MeBombay Bicycle Club - I Want To Be Your Only PetHalo Maud - Terres InfiniesElmiene - SomedayBrittany Howard - What NowGhetts - TumbiLip Critic - Milky MaxAndrew Underberg, Sam Haft, Christian Borle, Amir Talai, Joel Perez - Stayed Gone (from Hazbin Hotel)Caroline Polachek - ComaLambrini Girls - God’s CountryThe Last Dinner Party - The Feminine UrgeFuture Islands - Give Me The Ghost BackSans Soucis feat. Charles and Cid Rim - Mexico City (Abbey Road Lock-In Session)Sofia Kourtesis - How Music Makes You Feel BetterCat Janice - Dance You Outta My HeadSNAYX - ConcreteAntsLive - CutleryThey Hate Change feat. Cherele - So ExcitedCHROMA - Girls Talk (2023 Album Version)Royel Otis - VelvetJordan Rakei - FlowersSam Akpro - Death By EntertainmentATRIP and Pote - Look At Me DanceJalen Ngonda - If You Don’t Want My LoveDavid Holmes feat. Raven Violet - Necessary GeniusYaya Bey - chasing the bus21 Savage - redrumDon Toliver - BanditHallan - The Colline GateDizzee Rascal feat. JME and D Double E - What You Know About ThatErika De Casier feat. They Hate Change - IceTirzah - F22Ottla - EspejoFlat Worms - Time Warp In ExileFlowerovlove - A Girl Like MeDeeper - Sub FROM THE PAST (songs from before February 2023) Squarepusher - Theme From Ernest Borgnine (1996)The Who - Dr. Jimmy (1973)Dr. Dre - Let Me Ride (1993)Riovaz - I Feel Fantastic (2021)Elton John - Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (1973)Siouxsie And The Banshees - Suburban Relapse (1978)Strawbs - Part Of The Union (1973)The Orielles - Sugar Tastes Like Salt (2017)Talking Heads - Found A Job (1978)Outkast - Liberation (1998)Joey Beltram - My Sound (1991)The Smiths - Ask (1986)Erykah Badu - Appletree (1997)Boys Noize and Erol Alkan - Lemonade (2010)Bryson Tiller - Things Change (2020)Ultravox - Quiet Men (1978)Phil Collins - Hang In Long Enough (1989)Kojaque - Black Sheep Part 1 (2021)Ross From Friends - Champagne (2018)Coriky - Clean Kill (2020)U96 - Club Bizarre (1995)Backroad Gee - Party Popper (2020)The Fall - Everything Hurtz (1992)deLillos - Suser Avgarde (1986)Bleachers - Stop Making This Hurt (2021)Ride - Stampede (1992)Raw Silk - Do It To The Music (1982)Unknown Mortal Orchestra - No Need For A Leader (2013)Fleetwood Mac - I Know I’m Not Wrong (1979)Nation Of Language - On Division St. (2020)Geraldo Pino - Shake Hands (1974)Alexander O’Neal - Fake (1987)Little Boots - New In Town (2009)Average White Band - Love Your Life (1976)The Cure - From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea (1992)Bob Moses feat. ZHU - Desire (2020)The Beatles - Free As A Bird (1995)Desmond Dekker and The Aces - Israelites (1968)Tubeway Army - You Are In My Vision (1979)The Durutti Column - No Communication (1979)Patrick Topping and Hayley Topping - Disco Hits (2021)Midnight Oil feat. Jessica Mauboy and Talisman Keith - First Nation (2020)Thursdays - Perfection (1979)Sun Electric - Pitcheon (1993)R.E.M. - E-Bow The Letter (1996)Special Interest - Follow Me (2022)Disclosure - Tenderly (2012)Bastille - bad_news (2014)John Coltrane - Giant Steps (1960)The Fall - Jawbone And The Air-Rifle (1982)

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTION Kenya Grace - Only In My MindObongjayar - Just CoolDawn Richard - Babe RuthBob Vylan - Hunger GamesBodega - TarkovskiFolly Group - FreezeSailor Honeymoon - Bad AppleThe Last Dinner Party - Caesar On A TV ScreenShelf Lives - All Grown UpFuture Islands - Say GoodbyeYazmin Lacey - Late Night PeopleQueens Of The Stone Age - What The Peephole SayKid Cudi - KEEP BOUNCIN’Erick The Architect feat. George Clinton - Ezekiel’s WheelLow Girl - BoredPorij - My Only LoveThey Hate Change - Wallabees & WeejunsHelado Negro - I Just Want To Wake Up With YouWombo - SlabSleater-Kinney - HellThe Smile - TeleharmonicJessica Winter feat. Jonathan Snipes - All I NeedYouth Sector - Free ParkingLil Nas X - J CHRISTJordan Rakei - FreedomSofia Kourtesis - Si Te Portas BonitoAriana Grande - yes, and?Mr Ben & The Bens - Listening PartyBaby Storme - This City Is A GraveyardHozier feat. Brandi Carlile - Damage Gets DoneKAMILLE feat. Tamera and Bellah - OptionsAmaarae - Sociopathic Dance QueenTATYANA - Down BadKneecap feat. Grian Chatten - Better Way To LiveQuantic feat. Rationale - UnconditionalNubiyan Twist - So Mi StayRenee Rapp feat. Megan Thee Stallion - Not My Fault (from Mean Girls)Mannequin Pussy - SometimesSNAYX - Sink Or SwimBlanco - Carpe DiemFlammer Dance Band - FriSTRFCKR - Together ForeverChalk - The GateStupid Son - Black MouldJuicy Romance and Mainline Magic Orchestra - WorkEyes Of Others - Big Companies, Large TentaclesTiger Mendoza feat. Daniel Clear - Green MachineDrake - Stories About My BrotherBombay Bicycle Club - My Big DayTeen Mortgage - OligarchyThe Jesus & Mary Chain - jamcodJulia Holter - SpinningVitya Payal’nik - ScienceNoah Kahan and Sam Fender - Homesick (Remix)KwolleM and AJ Tracey - Grandma’s iamspamspamami/li>1tbsp - Mosquito, Pt. 2David Kushner - Skin And BonesLost Frequencies and Bastille - Head DownThe Vaccines - Heartbreak KidIraina Mancini - Cannonball FROM THE PAST (songs from before January 2023) J.I.D. - 2007 (2022)Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day (1970)The Residents - Blue Rosebuds (1978)Queens Of The Stone Age - The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret (2000)Alice In Chains - Don’t Follow (1994)DJ Fresh - Submarines (2004)Bjork - Bachelorette (1997)The Fall - Bingo-Master (1978)Brian Eno - St. Elmo’s Fire (1975)Sleaford Mods - Fizzy (2013)D-Devils - The 6th Gate (Dance With The Devil) (2000)Prince - Feel U Up (Short Stroke) (1989)Body Count - Cop Killer (1992)English Teacher - R&B (Theo Verney Version) (2021)Adonis - No Way Back (1986)Pete Rock and CL Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (1992)Aristides Ramirez - Los Lanbones (???, recorded 60s/70s)Mick Jagger - Strange Game (2022)Pylon - Read A Book (1980)The UMC’s - Jive Talk (1991)Everything But The Girl - Each And Every One (1984)Lady Gaga - Dance In The Dark (2009)Redveil - morphine (da ways) (2022)Club Yoko - I AM (2018)Childish Gambino - Les (2011)Luca Locanzo - Calling All Dancers (2015)Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης - Ο Ψαράς (1989)Lizzy - Love Is A Treasure (1973)Mac Miller - The Star Room (OG Version) (2013)The Black Keys - Heavy Soul (2002)Steely Dan - Midnite Cruiser (1972)Do Nothing - Handshakes (2018)Daisy Chainsaw - Love Your Money (1991)Rhythm Roots Allstars feat. John Arthur Bigham - Say I Do (2022) Otha - One Of The Girls (2018)TiaCorine - Pancakes (2021)Swordman Kitala and Village Cuts - Digida (2022)The J Geils Band - Flamethrower (1981)A$AP Mob feat. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti and Big Sean - Frat Rules (2017)Joey Valence & Brae - Crank It Up (2021)

Day 1: A song you like with a day in the title Edit: I was going to go with Friday I'm In Love by The Cure, but JulianT already nominated it, so my new pick is: Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground & Nico Day 2: A song by someone who appeared in a TV talent show If I Had You by Adam Lambert

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTIONOpus Kink - ChildrenCASISDEAD - VenomYussef Dayes feat. Venna and Charlie Stacy - Black Classical MusicRomy - The SeaBiig Piig - Watch MeShygirl feat. Cosha - thiccFuture Islands - The TowerThe Bug Club - MarriageGrove feat. EJ AKIN - BIG BOOTSThe Blinders - BrakelightsDirty Nice - SHARK!KAYTRANADA feat. Rochelle Jordan - Lover/FriendKenya Grace - ParisNation Of Language - Too Much, EnoughSlowdive - alifeSleaford Mods - Big PharmaTiga and Hudson Mohawke feat. Jesse Boykins III - Silence Of LoveLil Yachty feat. Teezo Touchdown - the ride-Obongjayar - Who Let Him InSprints - Adore Adore AdoreBob Vylan - He’s A ManDoja Cat - Skull And BonesKanii, Riovaz, Nimstarr - Heart RacingBaxter Dury - Celebrate MeNight Beats - Thank YouErick The Architect feat. Channel Tres - AmbrosiaRyder, Skepta, Dre Six - For YouBlack Honey - WeirdosEverything Everything - Cold ReactorDivorce - BirdsAnish Kumar - Little Mis DynamiteQuantic feat. Andreya Triana - RunJoey Valence and Brae - CAN’T STOP NOWBADBADNOTGOOD and Charlotte Day Wilson - SleeperFoo Fighters - RescuedCumgirl8 - Cursed AngelTkay Maidza feat. Lol Zouai and Amber Mark - Out Of LuckUnderworld - denver lunaThe Smile - Wall Of EyesSprints - Up And ComerCVC - Sophie (Single Mix)Mitski - Bug Like An AngelSwizz Beatz feat. Jadakiss, Benny The Butcher and ScarLip - Take ‘Em OutCoach Party - What’s The Point In LifePicture Parlour - Judgement DayMiso Extra - Space JunkNemzzz - MONEY AND VIBESThe Kills - Kingdom ComeDo Nothing - NerveIDLES - Grace FROM THE PAST (songs from before December 2022) Rage Against The Machine - Bullet In The Head (1992)Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (1975)A Tribe Called Quest - The Hop (1996)Santana - Black Magic Woman (1970)Michael Kiwanuka - Tell Me A Tale (2011/2012)Aesop Rock x Blockhead - That Is Not A Wizard (2021)Slowdive - Allison (1993)Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter (1983)The Wombats - My First Wedding (2006)The Abyssinians - Declaration Of Rights (1971/1976)Isaiah Rashad feat. YGTUT - Chad (2021)Chilli Jesson - St. Vitamin (2021)Pulp - After You (2013)Gomez - Machismo (2000)Magdalena Bay - Dreamcatching (2021)Connie Constance - Hurt You (2022)Bomb The Bass feat. Benjamin Zephaniah and Sinead O’Connor - Empire (1995)Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease (1985)Ike & Tina Turner - Nutbush City Limits (1973)Lone - Airglow Fires (2013)Generation X - Dancing With Myself (1980)Machine Girl - Ghost (2014)Sad Lovers & Giants - Things We Never Did (1981)Siouxsie & The Banshees - Kiss Them For Me (1991)Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue - Where The Wild Roses Grow (1995)Sky Ferreira - I Blame Myself (2013)Jammin, DJ Zinc - Kinda Funky (2001)Harry Belfaonte - Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) (1956)Say She She - Trouble (2022)The Beat - Ranking Full Stop (1979)Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy (1955)Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want (1970)Guns ‘n’ Roses - November Rain (1991)Tenpole Tudor - 3 Bells In A Row (1981)Gary Moore - Go On Home (1999)Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - So In Love (1985)Modeselektor - Evil Twin (2011)Zru Vogue - Nakweda Dream (1981)Phantogram - Fall In Love (2014)The Wake - Crush The Flowers (1989)The Sound - Missiles (1980)KC & The Sunshine Band - Queen Of Clubs (1974)Brendan Benson - A Whole Lot Better (2009)Pino D'Angio - Ma Quale Idea (1980)Divorce - Checking Out (2022)Drab Majesty - Dot In The Sky (2017)Violent Femmes - Country Death Song (1984)Story One - Trebuchet (2007)A Certain Ratio - Felch (1981)Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust (1975) And to add a sprinkle of festivity to this playlist, here are five Christmas songs I discovered and enjoyed this month: The Crystals - Santa Claus Is Coming To TownFrank Sinatra - Jingle BellsBob Dylan - Here Comes Santa ClausPhoebe Bridgers - So Much WineLaufey - Winter Wonderland

+12 Houdini +10 Now And Then +8 Can't Catch Me Now +7 Heartbeat +6 Lovin' On Me +5 Selecta +4 exes +3 all-american bitch +2 Is It Over Now +1 You're Christmas To Me

+12 One Of Your Girls +10 Won't Forget You +8 Mosquito +7 Rich Baby Daddy +6 Feelings +5 3D +4 Hey DJ +3 Stick Season +2 In The City +1 You & Me

Week 44 Excellent (9/10)This Is HalloweenNow And ThenSay The Word Very good (8/10) AdolescenceSlutMoney On The DashNow That We Don’t Talk Solid (high 7) Is It Over Now Decent (7/10) Heart Still Beating Week 45 Excellent (9/10)Can’t Catch Me Now Very good (8/10) Heartbeat (I remember listening to this 11 years ago. Can't believe it's just now charting)Lose ControlCoalStanding Next To You Solid (high 7) CobraBleed Not a fan (5/10) Mr. Take Ya Bitch

Pretty cool to see CMAT, Olivia Dean and Peggy Gou on this list. I remember listening to It Makes You Forget in 2018, so it is odd to see Peggy only now appear on the nominee list, but still nice to see her. Last Dinner Party and Tyla have some good stuff too (I have, however, only listened to three of their songs so far), and I find Caity to be solid. Others I've either listened to like one or two songs (Ayra, Kenya, Elmiene) or no songs at all I was going to say 'They should have given the Sound Of 2019 award to Slowthai or ROSALIA', but the former is facing similar charges of his own, so maybe the latter would have been a better alternate choice. The whole 'album scrapped due to sexual assault charges/allegations only for it to get released a few years later' also happened with Ryan Adams, and like Alpha, Big Colors didn't seem to get a lot of coverage. I remember coming across the Grammys Best New Artist Curse discussion a few years ago, and also saw two great videos from Crash Thompson discussing that curse with winners of that award from the 90s, and it made me think whether there is a Best New Artist curse in the Sound Of award.

How I plan out my Playlists Of The Month (for those who are new to them): The Mostly Recent section usually has a Top 60 of this month ranked from most fave, but there has been the rare occasion where I have expanded it to a 75 (due to some months where I listen to so many good songs). Since 2019, my playlists have been consisting of songs that have been at least an 8/10 for me at the time. The Retro section used to be in a more random order, but now its in a similar order to the mostly recent section. In recent months, if the total amount of songs I've listened to this month (i.e. new discoveries and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes songs I have heard before but don't remember bringing up on this forum) exceeds 100, then I'll try to even out both sections by limiting them to 50 each (or 60 + 40). MOSTLY RECENT SECTIONDanny Brown - Jenn’s Terrific VacationJanelle Monae feat. Doechii - PhenomenalKAMILLE feat. Nile Rodgers - Muscle MemoryIDLES, LCD Soundsystem - DancerAntony Szmierek - How Did You Get HereNadine Shah - Topless MotherYard Act - Dream JobKojaque - CABRA DRIVEParis Texas - Everybody’s Safe UntilShelf Lives - Off The RailsDaughter - DandelionGuvna B feat. Ghetts - U Get MeHotel Lux - Eastbound And DownPotter Payper - MultifacetedKETTAMA - Fly Away XTCDua Lipa - HoudiniEnglish Teacher - Nearly DaffodilsEgyptian Blue - To Be FeltCVC - Good Morning Vietnam (Album Mix)Roisin Murphy - Hurtz So BadOvermono - Blow OutPorij - You Should Know MePale Blue Eyes - SpacesRedveil feat. Mekdelawit - f2gUnknown Mortal Orchestra - The BeachCARRTOONS feat. Rae Khalil - GraceThe Rolling Stones - Whole Wide WorldActress - Push Power ( a 1 )Fat Dog - King Of The SlugsSabrina Carpenter - FeatherOlivia Rodrigo - Can’t Catch Me Now (from The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes)BIG SPECIAL - DESPERATE BREAKFASTThe Beatles - Now And ThenThe Last Dinner Party - My Lady Of MercyDaniel Avery - Out Of SilenceNoah Kahan - You’re Gonna Go FarGotts Street Park feat. ENNY - MountainsCharlotte Plank - Lost BoysPet Shop Boys - Skeletons in the closetChase & Status feat. Clementine Douglas - Say The WordKiller Mike - YES!Say She She - Bleeding HeartSundara Karma - Violence To The SpiritKayCyy - ROLL THE DICEEffy - MadBound By Endogamy - CogsLil Yachty - the BLACK seminoleBru-C feat. MIST - DifferentlyHaiku Hands - Cool For YouAllison Russell - Demons FROM THE PAST (songs from before November 2022) Supertramp - Rudy (1974)The Roots feat. Dice Raw and Beanie Sigel - Adrenaline! (1999)Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same (1973)Public Enemy - Fight The Power (Album Version) (1990)Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott feat. Big Boi - All N My Grill (1999)Leonard Cohen - Master Song (1967)Beastie Boys - Shadrach (1989)WITCH - Waile (2022)Oingo Boingo - No One Lives Forever (1985)Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love (1967)Audio Bullys - Veteran (2003)Gang Of Youths - the kingdom is within you (2022)Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Weekend Run (2021)Clipping - Body & Blood (2014)KayCyy - THE SUN (2022)Bjork - Courtship (2017)Pantera - Psycho Holiday (1990)Noah Kahan - Northern Attitude (2022)Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Messages (Single Version) (1980)Outkast - Player’s Ball (1993)Roots Manuva - Facety 2:11 (2015)Daniel Avery - Bliss (2022)Ezra Furman - Throne (2022)Johnny Cash - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (1979)Kae Tempest feat. Loyle Carner - Guts (2014)Rush - The Spirit Of Radio (1980)Deep Purple - Speed King (1970)DJ Seinfeld feat. Stella Explorer - She Loves Me (2021)The Nightcrawlers feat. John Reid - Surrender Your Love (1995)Richard Hawley - Something Is (2001)Mono - Life In Mono (1996)Afro Celt Sound System - Whirl-Y-Reel 2 (1996)John Cale and Weyes Blood - STORY OF BLOOD (2022)Otis Redding - (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay (1968)Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity - This Wheel’s On Fire (1968)Ne-Yo - Coming With You (2015)The Bug Club - Love Is A Painting (2022)Oliver Sim - Run The Credits (2022)Usurum - Ρότα (2021)Angelica Garcia - Y Grito (2022)Hot Chip - Jelly Babies (2012)Ashanti - Happy (2002)Duffy - Well Well Well (2010)First Aid Kit - Angel (2022)Kitty Wells - I Gave My Wedding Dress Away (1963)Μάκης Χριστοδουλόπουλος - Φτιάξε Μου Ένα Καφέ (1988)The Snuts - The Rodeo (2021/2022)Childish Gambino - Heartbeat (2011)Franky Wah and AR/CO - Under The Sun (2022)MAMBA - Suavemental (2021)

+5 Baddadan +4 Houdini +3 Now And Then +2 Water +1 Cruel Summer -1 Lovin On Me -2 Prada -3 greedy -4 Stick Season -5 Is It Over Now