Best of 2023
The process of creating and absorbing new music is one of the most profound and basic of human experiences, and each year there are countless incredible songs and albums released into the world. The fact of the matter is that artistic expression requires bravery and vulnerability, as well as an unbelievable amount of time and effort. Because of this, we have always aimed to not be another website built to be overly critical of expression, but to share, celebrate, and discuss that which moves us and that we are genuinely excited about. In the age of streaming, the sheer volume of new music that is released into the world each year is astonishing, and 2023 was no exception to this, so naturally we were not able to cover everything that we felt connected to. To remedy that, we polled all of our contributors to share the music that we loved from this year, and compiled year end lists representative of what resonated with us the most, both as CHARM and as individual contributors to this platform. You can find all of these lists below, and we truly believe that there is something for everyone be found here. We thank you for an incredible and busy year, and can’t wait to see what is in store for all of us in 2024.
10. boygenius - the record
Supergroups are rarely as fulfilling as expected. Sometimes bringing together a complete band of massively successful creative minds creates a chaos where every voice is trying to compete for the spotlight. boygenius has always been able to sidestep this potential disaster by members Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker having a profound love and respect for each other and their work; but the record finds the trio settling on a sound that is uniquely boygenius, no longer an amalgamation of what each member does best independently. The aptly named the record finds boygenius amplifying each others’ voices to create an extraordinarily cohesive record full of cathartic ballads and haunting stories. The three vocalists have grown comfortable in their respective roles in the band, with each member seamlessly shifting from accompanying their collaborators to leading the song mere moments later. the record emphasizes that boygenius is its own entity entirely, and this debut record highlights how special these three songwriters are independently and as a band.
9. The Gaslight Anthem - History Books
History Books, the sixth LP from The Gaslight Anthem, and first since their sudden hiatus at the end of the album cycle for the criminally underrated (albeit slightly messy) Get Hurt, is exactly the return any fan of the New Jersey band could have dreamed of. A record that effortlessly picks up where the band left off nearly a decade ago, The Gaslight Anthem sound refocused and reinvigorated on History Books. The album is full of tracks like “Spider Bites” and “Little Fires” that embody classic The Gaslight Anthem, as well as more somber songs like album highlight “Michigan, 1975” and the haunting “Empires” that prove the New Jersey band can still write one hell of a ballad. Complete with a long-anticipated feature from none other than Bruce Springsteen on the title track, History Books is another captivating and moving offering from one of the greatest bands to ever do it. Welcome back, we’ve missed you.
8. Enter Shikari - A Kiss for the Whole World
A Kiss for the Whole World, the most recent outing from British rock band Enter Shikari, sees the band continue to defy genre and soar beyond expectation of what they are capable of. The album occupies the entirety of the sonic landscape, with single “(pls) set me on fire” offering horns and dance-inspired verses before exploding into a chorus of synths and heavy guitar riffs, interlude tracks such as “feed your soul” feeling like an 8-bit arcade game soundtrack, and “Bloodshot” keeping a house-inspired intro before launching into a coda carried entirely by a full string section. A Kiss for the Whole World showcases a band that is fearless in their songwriting, a statement piece that carried the band to a fruitful year of touring and allowed them to celebrate their first number one album.
7. Pain of Truth - Not Through Blood
A celebration of all things Long Island New York Hardcore, the monumental debut LP from Pain of Truth, Not Through Blood feels consequential in a way that few records are ever able to accomplish. The album shows Pain of Truth sounding like a road-tested veteran band, despite only having previously released eight songs prior to this LP. In the three short years since their inception, Pain of Truth have quickly become a staple in the hardcore scene, and Not Through Blood feels like exactly the record this band was designed to create. Every song that has vocals boasts at least one vocal feature, most of which coming from members of fellow New York hardcore bands. The amount of guests outnumbers the amount of tracks on the release, and although this could have led a lesser band straight into a severe identity crisis, Pain of Truth was able to create a collection of songs that are cohesive and completely their own, while always playing to the strengths of each and every featured artist this record aims to celebrate. This sense of community only serves to amplify an already impressive body of work - when everyone wanted to hear what Pain of Truth would do on an LP, they showed up with a monster set of tracks and brought as many of their friends with them as they could. The legacy of this record and band is something that only time can tell, but if initial reception is any indicator, Pain of Truth could very well have a classic album on their hands.
6. Fiddlehead - Death is Nothing to Us
One of the most consistent punk bands of recent years, Fiddlehead’s third LP Death is Nothing to Us is pure catharsis. Where previous records grappled with coming to terms with loss and learning to process grief, Death is Nothing to Us serves as a celebration of life and a declaration that grief is not the defining facet of one’s life. The record feels like a triumph, both lyrically and musically, and it truly shines at every opportunity. From the heavy rhythms and soaring melodies of “Loserman” to the ear-worm hooks of “Sullenboy” and an undeniable love song in “Fifteen to Infinity,” Fiddlehead have once again presented a nearly flawless body of work.
5. Dying Wish - Symptoms of Survival
Sometimes reinvention is not necessary to create a truly special body of work. Dying Wish’s debut record Fragments of a Bitter Memory was already a bold and modern take on the metalcore and hardcore sounds that dominated the early 00s, and that groundwork laid by Fragments allowed Dying Wish the room to perfect their sound on their sophomore LP Symptoms of Survival. Every element of Symptoms is an improvement on its predecessor - from tighter and more impassioned performances, to an increased finesse in songwriting and an undeniable confidence that oozes from every track. And while much of Symptoms focuses on improving on everything Dying Wish did right the first time around, tracks like the blistering “Tongues of Lead” or the melodic powerhouse “Paved In Sorrow” add new layers to a band that was already one of the most exciting in their scene.
4. Maisie Peters - The Good Witch
Maisie Peters’ sophomore effort The Good Witch finds the artist’s songwriting maturing and evolving at a breakneck pace, while still maintaining the signature blend of angst, yearning, and heartache that brought her to stardom. With cuts such as “Body Better” exploring synths and stacks of harmonies akin to the theatrics of 80s pop, and “You’re Just a Boy (And I’m Kinda The Man)” featuring entirely live instrumentation complete with twanging guitars one might hear on modern pop-country radio, the eclectic mix of subgenres present throughout the record showcases Peters’ versatility while still continuing to build upon the rock-solid foundation laid out by past work. With a string of sold-out headline tours and festival appearances to follow, ultimately concluding the year with a deluxe reissue of the album, The Good Witch cements Maisie Peters’ place as an unstoppable force in the pop landscape.
3. Militarie Gun - Life Under the Gun
Militarie Gun’s meteoric rise has been something to behold. Growing from a creative outlet during the initial stages of the COVID-19 lockdown to having a trio of stellar EPs, inking a deal with Loma Vista, and receiving widespread acclaim in the span of just three short years, the Los Angeles-based punk band’s debut LP had massive expectations to meet. A testament to how special Militarie Gun truly is, Life Under the Gun showcases the band expanding their melodic tendencies, blowing even the loftiest of expectations out of the water and resulting in the most impressive debut record of 2023. From the infectious melodies of “Very High” and “Never Fucked Up Once” to outright punk anthems in “Do It Faster” and “My Friends Are Having a Hard Time,” Militarie Gun has made a record that honestly feels timeless.
2. Fall Out Boy - So Much (for) Stardust
There was no musical moment in 2023 that seemed to stop time quite like the release of So Much (for) Stardust’s first single “Love From the Other Side.” Fall Out Boy has spent their post-hiatus career focusing on their ever-present pop sensibilities, and the band has seen their greatest commercial successes on the backs of singles such as “Uma Thurman” and “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light ‘Em Up).” Fall Out Boy has always been unafraid to boldly do whatever the hell they want, so the band returning to the sounds of their first act was equal parts unexpected and revelatory. Featuring callbacks to their classic records and the best musical performances of their discography, So Much (for) Stardust is highlighted by lyrical through lines and a full string section on much of the record, and these elements make the album feel less like a rehash of where the band has been, but a celebration of who they are and where they are headed.
Paramore - This Is Why
Over the course of Paramore’s six album run, there has never been a release that was not a complete and total reinvention of what the band had previously seemed to be capable of. This Is Why is yet another epiphany from the Franklin, TN legends - a stunning look inwards at the toll of existing in an overwhelming world, with a bleak-yet-urgent post-punk inspired backdrop that feels not only like the most natural progression for Paramore, but also the perfect soundtrack to the subject matter at hand. Paramore has often opted to take a “less is more” approach to releasing music over their near twenty year run, and This Is Why is yet another perfect example of how this slow and steady world building has led the band to one of the most impressive catalogs in rock music. Yet another record that feels like a milestone in a career utterly full of them, This Is Why is a masterpiece.
Paramore - Figure 8
Militarie Gun - Never Fucked Up Once
Fall Out Boy - Hold Me Like a Grudge
Spanish Love Songs - Clean-Up Crew
Middle Kids - Highlands
Maisie Peters - You’re Just A Boy (And I’m Kinda The Man)
The Maine - how to exit a room
Citizen - If You’re Lonely
Knocked Loose - Deep in the Willow
The Gaslight Anthem - Positive Charge