Our Annual Orgy of Self-Congratulation, Grandstanding & Overconsumption: Matador Artists & Staff Select Their 2023 Favorites
(above: thespian powerhouse Jared Leto, reprising his award winning 2007 turn as Mark David Chapman after reading the third paragraph below)
Around this time every December, your heroic editor attempts to coax a list of favorite recordings, books, television programs, life events, etc. out of the label’s artist roster (GOOD LUCK WITH THAT) and our music industry co-conspirators. In the past, this exercise has been a grueling process, fraught with nagging, sobbing and no shortage of vehemently opposed participants, some of whom actually changed labels, places of employment or identities to escape the obligation.
For some historical perspective, here’s last year’s results. Questions or comments about our terrible tastes and/or inexplicable omissions are welcome (but not so welcome that we’re going to do a damn thing about it)
On behalf of everyone at Matador, here's wishing you, your families and friends a safe & happy holiday and thanks for dealing with our bullshit. 2024 is going to be our best year ever (EDITOR'S NOTE FOR INVESTORS: this doesn’t necessarily mean the most profitable year ever).
And without further ado, let the coronation of Thirty Seconds To Mars’ ‘It’s The End Of The World, It’s A Beautiful Day’ commence.
– Gerard Cosloy
Hugo Burnham, Gang Of Four
Hugo’s Baker’s Dozen List for 2023:
1. Still playing with the best version of Gang Of Four, ever.
2. Still playing sober every night.
3. Still playing with the Legendary Sara Lee.
4. Still amazed at how David Pajo does it.
5. Jon King and I visiting our dear old friend and Bass Master, Dave Allen, after the CA dates in May.
6. Seeing old friends on the road, after too long - not least our Original 1-of-2 Younger Brothers road crew, Phil Allen.
7. Welcoming the arrival other Original 1-of-2 Younger Brothers road crew, Jolyon Burnham’s third grandchild.
8. Playing sloppy, under-rehearsed Mekons and Dr. Feelgood songs vigorously and wonderfully on our October UK tour.
9. Playing alongside Drum God, Jon Wurster. Damn, he’s good….
10. Playing with the great Nuggets band collective in Chapel Hill, led by Lenny Kaye (and the great James Mastro).
11. Playing an Iggy song behind the magnificent Alejandro Escovedo...who I once played golf with years ago at SXSW.
12. Hoping that Killing Joke might find their David Pajo. The world will be a lesser place without them.
13. Slow Horses on TV - third season just started!
Lee Tesche, Algiers
Top 5 staff 2023, in order:
1. Patrick
2. Josh
3. Emma
4. Malcolm
5. Aaron
Honorable Mention: Emily
Patrick Amory, Matador Records
stuff I enjoyed in 2023, no order:
empty country - empty country ii (get better/tough love)
suzanne ciani and jonathan fitoussi - golden apples of the sun (oblique and atmospheric)
sharp pins - turtle rock (hallogallo tapes)
badbox & bun xapa - ammo (deep root tribe)
donkey basketball - donkey basketball planet (hallogallo tapes)
poison ruïn - härvest (relapse)
sanam – aykathani malakon (mais um)
p.g. six - murmurs & whispers
lewsberg -- s/t (12xu reissue)
party dozen – the real work (grupo)
UNIFLORA – francium (self-released)
jaimie branch – fly or die fly or die fly or die ((world war)) (international anthem)
EXEK – the map and the territory (feel it)
honorable mentions:
san kazakgascar - too many people (lather)
facs - still life in decay (trouble in mind)
beirut - hadsel (pompeii)
tyvek - overground (gingko)
Jean-Philippe Aline, Beggars Group
Albums:
Anohni - my back was a bridge for you to cross
Everything But The Girl - Fuse
Kelela - Raven
Roisin Murphy - Hit Parade
Kali Uchis - Red Moon In Venus
Eddie Chacon - Sundown
Jonah Yano - Portrait Of A Dog
Jessie Ware - That ! Feels Good !
Janelle Monae - The Age Of Pleasure
JMSN - Soft Spot
Sufjan Stevens - Javelin
EP:
Alex Eugenio - Veraneras
NewJeans - Get Up
Live Shows:
Madonna - The Celebration Tour
Sampha - Cirque d’Hiver / Paris
Tim Bernardes - Café de la danse / Paris
James Blake - Olympia / Paris
Roisin Murphy - Royal Albert Hall / London
Cleo Sol - Royal Albert Hall / London
Yo La Tengo - La Cigale / Paris
Sugababes - 02 / London
Romy - Cabaret sauvage / Paris
U.S. Girls - Le Petit Bain / Paris
Honorary mentions:
Amyl and the sniffers - Rock En Seine / Paris
Helado Negro - Pitchfork Paris
Nka - La Boule Noire / Paris
King Krule - La Cigale / Paris
King Krule - La Marbrerie / Montreuil
QOTSA - Nuits de Fourvieres / Lyon
Tv shows:
The Bear
Succession
The Diplomat
Beef
Best parties:
XL Plays / Fête de La Musique - Paris (merci Roxane & Cesca)
Rap & Beyond / Beirut
Nicholas Daley Aftershow / Paris
Best trip: Beirut
Best restaurant: Vantre / Paris
Best bakery: Terroirs d’avenir / Paris
Best boat trip: Water From Your Eyes / New York
Best exhibition: Alice Neel @ Beaubourg / Paris
Best demonstration: Against the pension reform
Favorite book: Les Enfants Endormis - Anthony Passeron
Adam Bohl, Matador Direct
New Music:
Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band - Dancing On The Edge (Sophomore Lounge) I usually would avoid picking a TOP album of the year, but this one was easily my most listened to.
Sunwatchers - Music Is Victory Over Time (Trouble In Mind)
Jamie Branch - Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die (World War) (International Anthem)
Equipment Pointed Ankh x2 - Downtown (Torn Light Records) / From Inside The House (bruit direct disques)
Genre - Demo (Rotten Apple)
Purling Hiss - Drag On Girard (Drag City)
Tyvek - Overground (Ginkgo Records)
Natural Information Society - Since Time Is Gravity (Eremite records)
Mike Donovan - Meets the Mighty Flashlight (Drag City)
Old Music (I attempted to keep this limited to new reissues):
The Breeders - Last Splash (30th Anniversary) (4AD)
Hillbillies In Hell: Bards Of Prey / A Chrestomathy / Wake Me Up! (Iron Mountain Analogue Facility)
Chalino Sánchez - 15 Exito's (Musart/Craft Latino/Vinyl Me Please)
Hound Dog Taylor & The House Rockers - Natural Boogie (Alligator Records / Vinyl Me Please)
Pharoah Sanders - Black Unity (Verve / Impulse / Third Man)
Hamza El Din - Al Oud (Real Gone Music)
Clint Eastwood & General Saint - Stop That Train (Greensleeves)
Upsetter - Rhythm Shower (Music On Vinyl)
Aselefech Ashine And Getenesh Kebret With Army Band – ? ? ? ? ? = Beauties (Mississippi Records)
Horace Ferguson - Sensi Addict (333)
Don Cherry - Hear & Now (Real Gone Music)
J.T. IV - The Future (Drag City)
Funkadelic - Hardcore Jollies / Uncle Jam Wants You / One Nation Under A Groove / The Electric Spanking Of War Babies (Charly Records)
Emma Buchanan, Matador Records
Favorite records (not in order):
Godflesh – Purge
Asher White – New Excellent Woman
ML Buch – Suntub
Joanne Robertson - Blue Car
Fever Ray – Radical Romantics
Nídia – 95 MINDJERES
Pelada – Ahora Más Que Nunca
Florry – The Holey Bible
Bill Orcutt - Jump On It
Meg Baird – Furling
Tyvek – Overground
Heavy Metal – IV: Counter Electrode Iron Mono (maybe this didn’t actually come out this year)
Favorite shows (not in order):
Godflesh + Boris, Knockdown Center
The Cure, MSG
Tubby’s five-year anniversary show in Kingston
Arthur Verocai, Lincoln Center
Joanne Robertson, Union Pool
RXK Nephew + LUCY, Baby’s All Right
Favorite trips to the movies (not in order):
Dark Waters (1993), Anthology
Dog Day Afternoon, Film Forum
Spectober (especially Red Spirit Lake), Spectacle
Birth/Rebirth, IFC
Saw X opening night!, Regal Union Square
Anatomy of a Fall, Regal Essex
Favorite 29 NBA teams (in order):
76ers
Heat
Raptors
Bucks
Pistons
Suns
Thunder
Pacers
Timberwolves
Cavs
Spurs
Grizzlies
Clippers
Magic
Hawks
Knicks
Bulls
Rockets
Trail Blazers
Wizards
Nets
Hornets
Jazz
Lakers
Warriors
Pelicans
Kings
Mavs
Nuggets
Patti & Selma's Hammock
Steve Burhans, Beggars Group
MOST LISTENED TO RELEASES OF 2023:
Armand Hammer – We By Diabetic Test Strips 2xLP (Fat Possum) – Deserving of all the praise it gets.
King Tee – Thy Kingdom Come CS (RMV Grammofon) - Finally an official release for this 1998 rarity. Still slams.
Vladislav Delay – Priceless treasure finally available to the public. Consider yourself blessed.
Multila 2xLP (Keplar) – Compilation of the classic Chain Reation singles. Unmissable.
Whistleblower 2xLP (Keplar) – 2007 stunner on LP for the first time.
Entain 2xLP (Keplar) – 2nd LP back in print after 23 years!
Les Rallies Denudes – We are most definitely living in the golden age of Les Rallizes Denudes reissues. Thanks to Temporal Drift for bringing the classics to the people. Many interesting boots about this year also. Lots for the heads to explore on both sides of the law.
Romance Of The Black Pain Otherwise Fallin’ In Love With 12” (Temporal Drift)
Mizutani/Les Rallizes Denudes LP (Temporal Drift)
Citta’ 93 3xLP (Temporal Drift)
’77 Live 3xLP (Temporal Drift)
’67-’69 Studio et Live LP (Temporal Drift),
Studio Sessions 1972 & 1980 LP (Bootleg)
Azabu-Studio-Demo-1985-Vol 1 LP (Bootleg)
Azabu-Studio-Demo-1985-Vol 2 LP (Bootleg)
Acid-Psychedelic-King-Go-To-The-East-1975-Live and Studio LP (Bootleg)
British Electric Foundation – Music For Stowaways LP (Cold Spring) – The full horror (for the first time) on this absolutely vital album. The raw/dark calm before the Heaven 17 extreme pop storm to come.
Thee Retail Simps – Live On Cool Street LP (Total Punk) – Two killers in a row and I don’t see em slowing down.
V/A – Dream the Dream (UK Techno, House and Breakbeat 1990-1994) 2xLP (Dance Music From Planet Earth) – Outta nowhere release that stayed on my turntable for much longer than expected.
Daniel Bachman – Almanac Behind LP (Three Lobed) – A record that actually sounds like life does in 2023. As quiet/distorted/mellow/jarring and visceral as walking through the world on any normal day.
Hi Tech – Detwat LP (FXHE) – The record we all needed in 2023. Can’t wait for what’s next.
Mozart Estate – Pop Up Ker-Ching And The Possibilities Of Modern Shopping LP (Cherry Red) – The lyrics just keep getting better. “Relative Poverty” is the song of the year.
Monolake – Honkkong LP (Field Recordings) – First ever LP for these life changing recordings. What a time to be alive.
Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records
albums:
The Native Cats - The Way On Is The Way Off (Chapter Music)
Sundae Painters - s/t (Leather Jacket)
Glittering Insects s/t (Mind Meld)
Saint Abdullah & Jason Nazary - Evicted In The Morning (Disciples)
Sanam - Aykathani Malakon (Mais Um Discos)
Ndox Electrique - Tëd Ak Mame Coumba Lamba Ak Mame Coumba Mbang (Bongo Joe)
Mother’s Milk - Render Void At Gate (State Laughter)
Dan Melchior Band - Redacted City (Midnight Cruiser)
Leda - Neuter (Discreet Music)
Institute - Ragdoll (Roach Leg)
Chrisman - Dozeage (Hakuna Kulala)
Emily Robb - If I Am Misery Then Give Me Affection (Petty Bunco)
Zoh Amba, Chris Corsano, Bill Orcutt - The Flower School (Palilalia, 2023)
Natural Information Society with Ari Brown - Since Time Is Gravity (Eremite, 2023)
Donna Allen with Adam Jones - Melon Koly / Parker's Song Diary #1 (ever/never)
Wet Dip - Smell Of Money (Feel It)
Theee Retail Simps – Live On Cool Street LP (Total Punk)
Barbara Manning - Charm Of Yesterday, Convenience Of Tomorrow (Badabing)
Modern Nature - No Fixed Point In Space (Bella Union)
The Lloyd Pack - I Can't Remember (Digital Regress)
Tyvek - Overground (Ginkgo)
Rome Streetz - Noise Kandy 5
The Hatch Expansion - Texas Edition (Astral Spirits)
FACS - Still Life In Decay (Trouble In Mind)
Ballister - Smash & Grab (Aerophonic)
Reissues:
Mark Glynee & Bart Zwier - Home Comfort (La Scie Dorée)
Dawson - Discography (Sorcerer)
Da Slime - If There’s No Rubble, You Haven’t Played 1977-1989 (Celluloid Lunch)
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - These Things Remain Unassigned (Bulbous Monocle)
Dredd Foole & The Din - We Will Fall 1983 (Corbett vs Dempsey)
Burnt Envelope - I'm Immature : The Singles Vol. II (Hozac)
Operating Theatre - Rapid Eye Movements / Spring Is Coming WIth A Strawberry In Its Mouth ( Allchival)
Live:
Still House Plants, 411Kent, Brooklyn
Obituary, Mohawk , Austin
Bill Orcutt / Chris Corsano, Goner Fest, Memphis
Unwound, Irving Plaza, NYC
EXEK, Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
Reading:
Who Cares Anyway : Post Punk San Francisco & The End Of The Analog Age - Will York
Holy Ghost : The Life & Death Of Albert Ayler - Richard Koloda
Wayward : Just Another Life To Live - Vashti Bunyan
Film:
Fremont (Babak Jalali)
R.M.N. (Christian Mungiu)
Showing Up (Kelly Reichardt)
Black Medusa (Youssef Chebbi, Ismaël)
Steve Cross, Remote Control
(photo by Mary Ellen Mark)
This year looked like this to me :
Malcolm Donaldson, Matador Records
23 Favorites from 2023:
Joanne Robertson - Blue Car
Portrayal of Guilt - Devil Music
Laurel Halo - Atlas
Eterna - Wardrove
Nakibembe Embaire Group - Nakibembe Embaire Group
Julie Byrne - The Greater Wings
ML Buch - Suntub
The Sounds They Made - “Feed You With My Kiss”
Mormon Toasterhead - “Between Two Gestures”
0fret - “Worth”
12 RODS - “My Year (This Is Going To Be)”
Everything But The Girl - “No One Knows We’re Dancing”
Westerman - “Pilot Was A Dancer”
Hurricane Season - Fernanda Melchor
The Pine Barrens - by John McPhee
Levels of the Game - John McPhee
The Fatal Eggs - Mikhail Bulgakov
There and Then - James Salter
Escapes - Joy Williams
Terminal Boredom - Izumi Suzuki
Arthur Verocai at Lincoln Center
Stanley, everyone’s favorite layabout
Tristan Gatwad, Beggars Group
Tristan’s Starting Eleven:
Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips (Fat Possum)
Best from a year-full of Billy Woods. No cheat sheet for mastering the glycemic index.
Delmer Darion – Tall Vision-of-the-Voyage (Practise)
Helped release this so keep my thoughts at arm’s length. Ends with 18-minutes of deep-sea tragedy from Mabe Fratti and Morfydd Clark which will tip you one way or the other.
Hinako Omori – stillness, softness… (Houndstooth)
A trick box of an album – ear-friendly ambient pop music that lingers and lingers.
Josephine Foster – Domestic Sphere (Fire)
One hell of a haunting. And one of my favourite album covers of the year, shot at the Four Corners quadripoint between UT/ CO/ AZ/ NM.
Kelora – Gloomerald (Crystal Rain)
No amount of telling me this band’s from Glasgow will make me believe this band’s from Glasgow.
McKinley Dixon – Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (City Slang)
Lives up to its starting pitch that Toni Morrison’s the world’s best rapper.
ML Buch – Suntub (15 love)
I’ve barely listened to anything else since October because of this. Disarmingly perfect songwriting.
Nighttime – Keeper Is The Heart (Ba Da Bing!)
A January looking glass that’s come good for the rest of the year, too.
Titanic (I la Católica + Mabe Fratti) – Vidrio (Unheard of Hope)
More Mabe. Mabe’s unstoppable.
V/A – Searchlight Moonbeam (Efficient Space)
There’s never anyone around to hear it.
V/Z (Valentina Magaletti + Zongamin) - Suono Assente (AD93)
Cat’s out the bag, and back in the box.
Special mention to Myriam Gendron’sNot So Deep As A Well
coming to vinyl nine years late but with 2 new bonus tracks!! (one exclamation mark per track)
Football club of the year: Yeovil Town, who win games once their opponents stop playing sport professionally.
Pam Garavano, Beggars Group
A Non-Exhaustive List of Music I Loved This Year:
Anna St. Louis – In the Air
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily – Love In Exile
Bill Orcutt – Jump On It
Fever Ray – Radical Romantics
H. Hawkline – Milk for Flowers
Hydroplane – Selected Songs 1997-2003
John Andrews – Love for the Underdog
June McDoom – With Strings EP
KMRU – Drawing Water EP
Natural Wonder Beauty Concept – S/T
Modern Nature – No Fixed Point in Space
Ruth Garbus – Alive People
Shiho Yabuki – The Body is a Message of the Universe
V/A – Searchlight Moonbeam
Yu Su – I Want an Earth EP
Sven Herwig, Beggars Group
Records:
All diese Gewalt – Alles ist nur Übergang
V.A. - OST Aktenzeichen XY ... Ungelöst
Cold Storage - wipe out - The Zero Gravity Soundtrack
Slow Pulp – Yard
DJ Shadow – Action Adventure
Slowdive – Everything is Alive
Die Selektion – Zeuge aus Licht
Bar Italia – The Twits
Skinny Pelembe – Hardly the same snake
Monika Roscher Bigband – Witchy Activities And The Maple Death
Videogames:
Alan Wake II
Super Mario Bros Wonder
Under the Waves
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
Dredge
Dead Space (Remake)
Cocoon
The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of the Kingdom
The Invincible
Immortals of Aveum
TV Series:
Deutsches Haus (The Interpreter of Silence)
Movie:
Das Lehrerzimmer (The Teacher´s Lounge)
Noam Klar, Matador Records
Bktherula - DO IT AGAIN
Burna Boy - Sitting’ On Top Of The World
CASISDEAD - Boys Will Be Boys
Chris Weisman - God
Cleo Sol - In Your Own Home
CTM - Drama
DJ Dog & Double Dancer - What Can I Say
Dj Js 015 feat. MC YURI REDICOPA & FURI SP - Boldin Internacional
Evita Manji - Black Hole
Geese - 3D Country
Jodie Harsh - Celebrate
jonatan leandoer96 - July
Lil Uzi Vert - Watch This (ARIZONATEARS Pluggnb Remix)
Nation & Ecco2k - Ça Va
Pesoa Pluma, Jasiel Nunez, Junior H - BIPOLAR
Pool Boy - Movie Night Cancelled (Dominique Dumont Ambient Remix)
Purelink - Pinned
PYNE featuring Gavsborg - Pum Pum Poetry
Rema - Holiday
Sugababes - When The Rain Comes
Sonya Kolowrat, Beggars Group
The VERY best show I saw this year:
Lankum at The Barbican in London. It was the only show that made me cry with emotion, and I think about it all the time. It was an honor to witness their magic and if you have the chance to see them please please please do.
Danzig sings Elvis/Danzig
Danzig sings Elvis was so ridiculous I just had to go – and it was totally worth it. Also worth it was seeing Danzig a little later in the year. Twist of Cain.
Gang Of Four two days in a row – first their own show in Pomona
SO SO SO great. I am envious of Jon King’s energy and Pajo is the perfect Andy Gill replacement. Then, Cruel World Festival the next day where everyone was completely blown away by them.
Legendary Stardust Cowboy at Zebulon – IYKYK
it wasn’t quite as insane as seeing him at SXSW in 2000, but I’m glad I got to see him again.
Nick Cave
not even sure what to say here – he’s perfect.
Arto Lindsay
it was so scronky and so dissonant and so Arto.
Fear
This show was insane and fun and featured a lot of beer throwing and people in Fear t-shirts and I loved it.
Sun Ra Arkestra
I had the pleasure of seeing them three times this year, but only one time with Marshall Allen. Dude is 99 – give him a break!
Mary Timony in Joe Wong’s backyard in Pasadena
more backyard shows please!
Numero 20 anniversary shows – this 2 day event was a blast –
Unwound, Codeine, Karate and many more and lots of pals in the house.
Andy Larsen, Matador Direct
Suishou No Fune - The wind is spring. There is a rainbow in the sky. Love is hiding in the waves.
Vanishing Twin - Afternoon X
Wolf Eyes and Model Home - More Difficult Messages
S*Glass - Cesspool of the Angels
Nakibembe Embaire Group - Nakibembe Embaire Group
Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru - Jerusalem
Shizuka - Heavenly Persona
Pharoah Sanders - Pharoah
Kali Malone - Does Spring Hide Its Joy
John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy - Evenings At The Village Gate
Sarah Davachi - Long Gradus
Les Rallizes Denudes - CITTA’ ‘93
Milford Graves with Arthur Doyle & Hugh Glover - Children Of The Forest Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter - Saved!
Clara! - Pulso
Spiral Dub - Spiral Dub
Dorothy Ashby - With Strings Attached
Augustus Pablo - Roots, Rockers, & Dub
Tyvek - Overground
Tozibabe - Discography 1984-1986
Rrose - Please Touch
Sonic Youth - Live In Brooklyn 2011
Aaron Leitko, Matador Records
Unwound @ Irving Plaza 3/10/23
Screaming Females - Desire Pathway
Ryuichi Sakamoto - 12
Rezzett - Meant Like This
CS + Kreme - Orange
Arthur Russell - Picture of Bunny Rabbit
Gunn / Truscinski / Nace - Glass Band
Jonny Nash - Point of Entry
Black Eyes - Live in DC / NY / Philadelphia
Laurel Halo - Atlas
BCMC - Foreign Smokes
Kassem Mosse - Workshop 32
Purelink - Signs
Superabundance - Extrasolar
Ron Morelli - Heart Stopper
Poison Ruin - Harvest
Pauline Anna Strom - Echoes, Space, Lines
Sonic Youth - Live in Brooklyn 2011
Jim O’Rourke - Hands That Bind OST
Natural Information Society - Since Time is Gravity
Vinnie Martini, Matador Direct
FAVORITE ACQUISITIONS OF 2023:
*highlights include:
BILLY NICHOLLS - Love Songs (GM Records, 1974)
If Nicholls's legendary Would You Believe is the British answer to Pet Sounds then Love Songs is the missing British link between #1 Record and Radio City. The 1-2 punch of Winter Rose and Gypsy are pure 70s-pop perfection.
THE KIDS - No Monarchy b/w Rock Over Belgium & The City Is Dead (Fontana, 1978)
Choice cuts off the 2nd LP by Belgian punk pioneers THE KIDS. Got this at my favorite record shop in Brussels, Juke Box Shop.
BILLY HAMON - Butch Things b/w Amusement Arcade (Bronze, 1978)
Was hipped to this one over a decade ago by 2 prolific recording artists and collectors and finally tracked a copy down. Need the UK sleeve with lyrics on the back though.
ZEROS - They Say That (Everything's Alright) b/w Geting Nowhere Fast (Test Tube Records, 1980)
The elusive final single by SoCal's premier Chicano punk band.
ROSE WHIPPERR & MARC STOWE - Dark vs. Light b/w Heathen Girls (Stark Naked Records, 1979)
Scarce Atlanta regional new wave with a punky B side that will be stuck in your head for weeks. Almost at the point where I think I know everyone with a copy of this record. Happy hunting. (version of Dark vs. Light on YouTube is from the 12" released 3 years later when the group renamed themselves after the singles flip side)
13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS - Bull Of The Woods (International Artists, 1969)
Still somehow very underrated final record by the Elevators. Exciting to finally have a clean original.
THREATICAL EXPERIENCE OF 2023:
Anthology Film Archives proudly presented a new restoration of a preview cut of ace character actor Timothy Agoglia Carey (an Italian-American from Brooklyn)'s magnumopus THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER a gonzo FACE IN THE CROWD a 75min movie from 1962 that has more to say about commercialism, marketing and the moral decay of the political world than any film released this century. PLEASE PLEASE TAKE MY HAND!
RIP Ralph Cirella, the greatest caller in the history of The Howard Stern Show #heynow #byefornow
Paulina Praphanchith, Matador Records
Favorite Albums/EPs of 2023:
Caroline Polacheck - Desire, I Turn To You
Strange Ranger - Pure Music
ML Buch - Suntub
Subsonic Eye - All Around You
Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We
DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Destiny
Being Dead - When Horses Would Run
Ana Frango Elétrico - Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua
Parannoul - After The Magic
Fit of Body - Far From The Rhythm
Hello Mary - s/t
Nabihah Iqbal - Dreamer
La Sécurité - Stay Safe!
Mandy, Indiana - i’ve seen a way
Alpha Maid - spresso
Slow Pulp - Yard
BAMBII - Infinity Club
Helvetia - The Clever North Wind
Pantayo - Ang Pagdaloy
Amaarae - Fountain Baby
Titanic - Vidrio
Favorite Reissues of 2023:
Les Rallizes Dénudés - CITTA ’93
Donna Summer - Another Place & Time
Pasteboard - Glitter
Ivy - Apartment Life
Abby Rubin, Beggars Group
Mandy Indiana - I’ve Seen A Way
Gia Margaret - Romantic Piano
Sweeping Promises - Good Living Is Coming For You
Blonde Redhead - Sit Down For Dinner
Slowdive - Everything Is Alive
Lewsberg - Out And About
Arthur Russell - Picture of Bunny Rabbit
ML Buch - Suntub
Tara Clerkin Trio - On The Turning Ground
Grian Chattan - Chaos For The Fly
Eartheater - Powders
Woo - Into The Heart of Love (reissue)
V/Z - Suono Assente
Mary Jane Dunphe - Stage of Love
Helena Deland - Goodnight Summerland
Gonzalo Schiaffino, Everlasting/Popstock
2023. Todos Locos
ONE PLAYLIST:
SONGS IN 2023: (More than 15 hours of music. One album, One Song. One Love)
ALBUMS:
ANOHNI AND THE JOHNSONS. My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross
CELISTIA - Dormida En Sus Ojos
CHARLES LAVAIGNE. La Niebla
DEAD MOON - Going South
EMMA TRICCA - Aspirin Sun
THE GREEN PAJAMAS - This Floating World Is A Dream
INDEX FOR WORKING MUSIK - Dragging The Needlework For The Kids At Uphole
KING KREOSOTE - I DES
LAEL NEALE - Star Eaters Delight
THE LEMON TWIGS - Everything Harmony
MARLODY - I'm Not Sure At All
THE MEN - New York City
MOLLY - Picturesque
MOONWALKS - Western Mystery Tradition
MUJERES - Desde Flores y Entrañas
ROBERT FINLEY - Black Bayou
THE ROLLING STONES - Hackney Diamonds
SARABETH TUCEK - Joan Of All
SPARKLEHORSE - Bird Machine
STEVE MASON - Brothers & Sisters
SWANS - The Beggar LIVE
BAR ITALIA - El Sol (Madrid)
BIG THIEF - La Riviera (Madrid)
BILL CALLAHAN - La Paqui (Madrid)
LAEL NEALE - Siroco (Madrid)
MUJERES - Tomavistas (Madrid)
NUDOZURDO - El Sol (Madrid)
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - Mad Cool (Madrid)
BOOKS:
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, etc (Rafa Cervera)
TV SERIES /DOCUMENTARIES / MOVIES:
ASTEROID CITY
THE BEAR
EL ENCARGADO
NADA (Nothing)
SUCESSION
WINNING GAME
Gabe Spierer, Beggars Group
listened to/thought about/thought about listening to/watched:
Taylor Swift
Corey Hanson - Western Cum
Dunc’d On Prime
Bluey
The Beths
Mindhunter
boygenius
Welcome To Plathville
Liquid Mike – S/T
Triangle Of Sadness
PLOSIVS - PLOSIVS
Tara Brach
Fucked Up – One Day
Succession
Chet Holmgren
Stolen Youth: Inside The Cult at Sarah Lawrence
Quanie Thornton, Beggars Group
Honorable Mention:
ALBUMS:
Sampha – Lahai
André 3000 – New Blue Sun
Laurel Halo – Atlas
SONGS:
Why (Spare Me Tears) – Elmiene
ICU – Coco Jones
4EVA – KAYTRAMINÉ
On My Mama – Victoria Monet
Back on 74 – Jungle
Got Me Started – Troy Sivan
To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug) – Summer Walker, J.Cole
Part of Your World (From "The Little Mermaid") – Halle
Water – Tyla
Monaco – Bad Bunny
POP CULTURE:
GRAMMYS 50th Hip Hop Tribute
Chris Stapleton's Superbowl Star Spangled Banner
Beyoncé – Renaissance Tour
Josh Turner, Matador Records
The two best albums I heard this year were Dream Unending / Worm – ‘Starpath’ and Kostnateni– ‘Úpal’. Westside Gunn, Yo La Tengo, Föllakzoid probably round out my Top 5 if pushed to commit, although if I’m honest the jonaton.leandoer96 record should really be in there too.
‘Nevolnost je vše, ?im jsem (Nausea Is All I Am)’ by Kostnaténí is my track of the year. It’s about as urgent as music gets. Changing gear, I must have listened to ‘Lullabies and Glue or My Brother’ by This Is Lorelei about fifty times since it came out in the Summer.
The chill intimacy of ‘Approaching Sound’ by Desecresy hailed another banner year for Death Metal. Sharing the summit with Urfaust, Kommand, Tomb Mold
End It, Planet On A Chain, and a band from Perth called Nervous are all playing great Hardcore.
Heroin’s ‘Discography’, ‘Selected Songs 1997 – 2003’ by Hydroplane and ‘Declination of Independence’ by Cold as Life (if I can count that) were my top reissue / archival works
Bleep-wise, releases by Ancient Methods, Rezzet and Angel Rocket helped me tolerate the hyperreal.
Playlists:
Tracks of the year
Metal, Punk and Hardcore tracks of the year
Top 10 Noam Klar Tweets:
- Hearing a lot of good things about The Bear but think I'm a bit old to be watching Disney stuff really
- Me on Dragon’s Den: “So I’m going to offer you all of the money but it’s going to be for 0% of the business. Take a minute to consult the wall”
- . When someone tells me my bag is open I’m thankful but also can’t help feel a mild resentment
- I don’t get pre-cubed ice for the same reason I don’t get pre-diced chicken or pre-chopped soffritto. Feels coddled and takes away the whole art and enjoyment of the process.
- Really enjoying ‘Barbecue Showdown’ on Netflix. The best smokers and pit masters in America making poetry out of protein.
- Taking a day off from work after a night out on the lash or as I like to call it 'fraternity leave'
- I wish software platforms would revert to speaking in terms like "address field required for import", rather than "Hi-de-ho there partner! No address make import gremlins angry "
- RIP Burt Bacharach. There was nothing I used to enjoy more than hearing an old scouse uni teacher in Liverpool say that name.
- Twitter isn’t Heathrow. Not all jokes are going to land.
- Nothing makes me lose faith in the authority of a cooking video more than an ingredient being added “because why not”
Jake Whitener, Matador Records
23 Favorites of 2023:
Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me
Sparklehorse- Bird Machine
The Tubs- Dead Meat
Crosslegged- Another Blue
Titanic (I la Católica & Mabe Fratti)- Vidrio
Golden Apples- Banannasugarfire
Subsonic Eye- All Around You
Lower Plenty- No Poets
Feeling Figures- Migration Magic
TV Star- TV3
Sloppy Heads- Sometimes Just One Second
Guided by Voices- Welshpool Frillies
Bong Wish- Hazy Road
Ava Mirzadegan- Dark Dark Blue
Ex Pilots- S/T
Julie Byrne- The Greater Wings
Seablite- Lemon Lights
Gabe Eisner- swimfan
Dividers- Crime of Passion
Joseph Allred- Branches and Leaves
ML Buch- River mouth
Mandy, Indiana- i’ve seen a way
Wilco- Cousin
Sweetie Zamora, Remote Control
Favourite Album & EP Releases Of 2023:
André 3000 - New Blue Sun
boygenius - The Record
Carla Geneve - Hertz
Caroline Polacheck - Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
Christine and the Queens - Paranoïa, Angels, True Love
Cleo Sol - Heaven/Gold
Glenn Hopper - Something About The Weather
Jen Cloher - I Am The River, The River Is Me
Jorja Smith - falling or flying
Jungle - Volcano
Karol G - Mañana Será Bonita
Kelela - Raven
Manuel Turizo - 2000
Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
Overmono - Good Lies
Peso Pluma - Génesis
Romy - Mid Air
Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro - RR
Sampha - Lahai
Supershy - Happy Music
The Japanese House - In the End It Always Does
Troye Sivan - Something To Give Each Other
Yussuf Dayes - Black Classical Music
Emily Zaremba, Matador Records
Favorite projects of the year (in no particular order):
Sword II - Spirit World Tour
Ulrika Spacek - Compact Trauma
Loraine James - Gentle Confrontation
Sharp Pins - Turtle Rock
ML Buch - Suntub
Nabihah Iqbal - DREAMER
Tirzah - trip9love…???
Titanic, i la católica, Mabe Fratti - Vidrio
XEXA - Vibrac???o???es de Prata
Maria BC - Spike Field
Laurel Halo - Atlas
Hinako Omori - stillness, softness…
Natural Wonder Beauty Concept - S/T
DJ E - Chuquimamani-Condori
feeble little horse - Girl with Fish
Melody English - The Web
Tsuzing - Green Hat
Joanne Robertson - Blue Car
Lael Neale - Star Eaters Delight
The Replacements - Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)
Khotin - Release Spirit
Liv.e - Girl In The Half Pearl
Hotline TNT - Cartwheel
Nídia - 95 MINDJERES
Julie Byrne - The Greater Wings
Mandy, Indiana - i’ve seen a way
Moin - Clocked Off
DJ Manny - Hypnotized
Beta Librae - Daystar
Marnie Stern - The Comeback Kid
PACKS - Crispy Crunchy Nothing
Meg Baird -
Blonde Redhead - Sit Down for Dinner
Strange Ranger - Pure Music
Duster - Remote Echoes
Queens of the Stone Age - "Emotion Sickness" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
(photo : ABC/Randy Holmes)
Last night (Thursday, December 14) Queens of the Stone Age performed "Emotion Sickness" from their 2023 album, 'In Times New Roman..' on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Saturday the band returns to the Kia Forum for their first Los Angeles appearance since their 2018 headline performance at said venue. Ticketed fans will be treated to Queens Colosseum, an official pre-party hosted by Queens of the Stone Age where guests are encouraged to “dance like no one is surviving.”
Queens Colosseum is located at the Forum’s terrace with food and drinks available. The parking lot party will include performances by local bands DeathbyRomy, Return to Dust and Ramonda Hammer, plus DJ set courtesy of Rock Night Out, carnival games, burlesque performances curated by Kitty Lane and friends from Jumbo’s Clown Room, flash tattoos, tarot reading and specialty goods vendors. Guests are encouraged to bring an item of clothing for screen printing as well. Toys for Tots will be collecting holiday gifts for donation – one lucky participant will win a ticket upgrade for two.
This event starts at 4PM and runs through the start of the show, and is for ticket purchasers only. More information can be found here
stream / purchase 'In Times New Roman'
Queens of the Stone Age on tour :
Friday, December 15 Viejas Arena, San Diego CA **
Saturday, December 16 Kia Forum, Los Angeles CA **
Saturday, 10 Feb - Perth Red Hill Auditorium, Australia
Tuesday, 13 Feb - Adelaide The Drive, Australia
Friday 16 Feb - Hobart Mona Lawns, Australia
Sunday, 18 Feb - Torquay Torquay Commons - Lookout, Australia
Monday, 19 Feb - Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Australia
Wednesday, 21 Feb - Sydney Hordern Pavilion, Australia
Saturday, 24 Feb - Gold Coast Broadwater Parklands - Lookout, Australia
Sunday, 25 Feb - Brisbane Fortitude Music Hall, Australia
Monday, 26 Feb - Brisbane Fortitude Music Hall, Australia
Thursday, 29 Feb - Auckland Spark Arena, New Zealand
Friday, 1 Mar - Wellington TSB Arena, New Zealand
Sunday, 3 Mar - Christchurch Wolfbrook Arena, New Zealand
Monday, April 1 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary CA &
Tuesday, April 2 Rogers Place, Edmonton CA &
Wednesday, April 3 Sasktel Centre, Saskatoon CA &
Friday, April 5 Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg CA &
Monday, April 8 Tribune Communities Centre, Oshawa CA &
Tuesday, April 9 Leon’s Centre, Kingston CA &
Wednesday, April 10 Budweiser Gardens, London CA &
Friday, April 12 Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa CA &
Saturday, April 13 Place Bell, Laval CA &
Sunday, April 14 Videotron Centre, Quebec City CA &
Tuesday, April 16 Avenir Centre, Moncton CA &
Wednesday, April 17 Scotiabank Centre, Halifax CA &
Thursday, May 2 Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh NC
Saturday, May 4 Shaky Knees Festival, Atlanta GA
Saturday, May 11 Welcome To Rockville, Daytona Beach FL
Friday, June 7 Rock Am Ring, Nürburg DE
Sunday, June 9 Rock Im Park, Nuremburg DE
Friday, June 14 Download Festival, Leciestershire UK
Tuesday, June 18 Coliseum Da Coruña, A Coruna ES
June 20 – 24 Azkena Rock Festival, Vitoria-Gasteiz ES
Thursday, June 20 Noches del Botanico, Madrid ES
Sunday, June 23 Marenostrum, Fuengirola ES
Wednesday, June 26 Alma Festival, Barcelona ES
June 27 – 30 Hellfest, Clisson FR
June 27 – 30 Openair St. Gallen, St. Gallen CH
Saturday, July 6 I-Days, Milan IT
Wednesday, July 10 Jardin Sonore Festival, Vitrolles FR
July 11 – 13 Pohoda Festival, Trencin SK
Wednesday, July 17 Colours of Ostrava, Ostrava CZ
July 17 – 21 Electric Castle, Transylvania RO
Thursday, July 18 Metastadt Open Air, Vienna AT
Tuesday, July 23 Src Salata, Zagreb HR
August 8 – 10, Way Out West Festival, Gothenburg SE
Friday, August 9 Oya Festival, Oslo NO
Saturday, August 10 Syd for Solen, Copenhagen DK
with
& The Chats and Deep Tan
** Spirtualized support
QOTSA ONLINE
WEBSITE
TIKTOK
Out Today : Car Seat Headrest - 'Faces From The Masquerade'
'Faces From The Masquerade', the new live album from Car Seat Headrest is available today via all streaming platforms, finer record stores (terrible ones, too) and direct from the Matador Store.(shirt available as a bundle or separately, exclusively on the Matador store)
‘Faces From The Masquerade’ Tracklist:
1. Crows (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
2. Weightlifters (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
3. Fill in the Blank (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
4. Hymn (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
5. Hollywood (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
6. Bodys (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
7. Something Soon (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
8. 1937 State Park (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
9. Sober to Death (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
10. Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
11. It's My Child (I'll Do What I Like) (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
12. Can’t Cool Me Down (Live at Brooklyn Steel) (VINYL ONLY)
13. Beach Life-In-Death (Live at Brooklyn Steel)
14. Deadlines (Live at Brooklyn St
Car Seat Headrest Online :
Car Seat Headrest at Matador
official site
Out Today: boygenius - 5th Anniversary Gatefold EP
Stream / Purchase boygenius EP
Out today: boygenius' (Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus) limited fifth anniversary edition of their debut EP on yellow vinyl with a gatefold sleeve featuring the album's lyrics. Available to purchase today from the Matador webstore, boygenius site, Bandcamp, and your local record store.
boygenius online
Website
Queens of the Stone Age : April 2024 Canadian Dates
Canadian dates on sale this Friday at 10am (see below)
Tickets : qotsa.com/tour/
The new Queens of the Stone Age album ‘In Times New Roman…’ is 30% off today only at the Matador store using the code SLAKEYOURTHIRST and at participating record shops (no code necessary). Find more info at matadorrecords.com/
Queens of the Stone Age on tour (new dates in bold) :
Tuesday, December 5 Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix AZ **
Wednesday, December 6 Abraham Chavez Theatre, El Paso TX **
Friday, December 8 Moody Center, Austin TX **
Saturday, December 9 713 Music Hall, Houston TX **
Sunday, December 10 The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving TX **
Tuesday, December 12 Revel, Albuquerque NM **
Friday, December 15 Viejas Arena, San Diego CA **
Saturday, December 16 Kia Forum, Los Angeles CA **
Saturday, 10 Feb - Perth Red Hill Auditorium, Australia
Tuesday, 13 Feb - Adelaide The Drive, Australia
Friday 16 Feb - Hobart Mona Lawns, Australia
Sunday, 18 Feb - Torquay Torquay Commons - Lookout, Australia
Monday, 19 Feb - Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Australia
Wednesday, 21 Feb - Sydney Hordern Pavilion, Australia
Saturday, 24 Feb - Gold Coast Broadwater Parklands - Lookout, Australia
Sunday, 25 Feb - Brisbane Fortitude Music Hall, Australia
Monday, 26 Feb - Brisbane Fortitude Music Hall, Australia
Thursday, 29 Feb - Auckland Spark Arena, New Zealand
Friday, 1 Mar - Wellington TSB Arena, New Zealand
Sunday, 3 Mar - Christchurch Wolfbrook Arena, New Zealand
Monday, April 1 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary CA &
Tuesday, April 2 Rogers Place, Edmonton CA &
Wednesday, April 3 Sasktel Centre, Saskatoon CA &
Friday, April 5 Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg CA &
Monday, April 8 Tribune Communities Centre, Oshawa CA &
Tuesday, April 9 Leon’s Centre, Kingston CA &
Wednesday, April 10 Budweiser Gardens, London CA &
Friday, April 12 Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa CA &
Saturday, April 13 Place Bell, Laval CA &
Sunday, April 14 Videotron Centre, Quebec City CA &
Tuesday, April 16 Avenir Centre, Moncton CA &
Wednesday, April 17 Scotiabank Centre, Halifax CA &
with
& The Chats and Deep Tan
** Spirtualized support
QOTSA ONLINE
WEBSITE
TIKTOK
Video : Car Seat Headrest - "Sober To Death" (Live)
presave / preorder 'Faces From The Masquerade'
Ahead of the release of new live album 'Faces From The Masquerade' this Friday, December 8th, Car Seat Headrest today share a video of the band performing the song "Sober To Death".
“Another track not originally slated to be a part of this tour – it came up often enough in the polls that it soon got locked in,” says frontman Will Toledo of “Sober To Death,” taken from the album 'Twin Fantasy'. “I think this hushed version gave everyone a welcome chance to breathe. While this video is taken from our performance at the Wiltern in Los Angeles rather than the Brooklyn Steel shows featured in 'Faces From The Masquerade', it captures the same feeling of spontaneity and community that was present throughout the tour.”
The album’s title is a nod to the band’s original tour announcement, which kindly asked audiences to mask up (for obvious reasons) and also invited fans to “accoutre yourself in whatever further costumery you please” for an evening of “music, dancing, and identity loss.” It also alludes to the by now familiar custom-made gas mask worn by frontman Will Toledo at shows, complete with an expressive LED display for eyes. In addition to the group’s four core members - Toledo, guitarist/backing vocalist Ethan Ives, bassist Seth Dalby and drummer Andrew Katz - they were joined on the tour by keyboard player Ben Roth.
Car Seat Headrest Online :
Car Seat Headrest at Matador
official site