The Top 10 Electronic Albums of 2023

The Electronic albums list covers music that is less organic than what is on other lists, without being pop music. Not much in the way of button-pushing dance music here either, but a mix of synth wave, and experimental hip-hop, along with new wave projects that use drum machines more than a kit. These are not the coolest electronic albums, but the best, fuck what other blogs say,.   After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2023. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Electronic albums of 2023.

10- X- Marks the Pedwalk- Superstition" 

The album opens with this long-running project sounding as fresh as ever. The vocals are distinct and have purpose, at times reminding me more of Gary Numan, than I recall thinking back when I used to listen to them more in the 90s. They continue to prove themselves relevant with this album. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/12/x-marks-pedwalk-superstition.html

 

9- Patriarchy - "Forcefully Rearranged "

Contrary to poor journalism accounts of this project there is nothing metal about it, I would not even call it industrial. It's sex-drenched dark wave that leans more onto the EBM side of things. Front Woman Actually Huizenga coos her way through sex-doll, which is more self-objectifying and not as subversive as they credit themselves with being. Though see that she came to fame as a scene kid in Los Angeles would you expect her to think anything else of herself even if it is all a marketing ploy. But with that said she knows her way around a hook, and they are onto something sonically cool here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/patriarchy-forcefully-rearranged.html

8 -Body of light - "Bitter Reflection"

The duo's sound has been further tweaked. While they still straddle the balance of capturing a sound versus writing songs, they are using the refinement of sound to further their songwriting. The vocals feel more in line with who they are. They crooned without emulating say Depeche Mode, whose earlier work still stands as their biggest influence.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/body-of-light-bitter-reflection.html

7-JPEGMAFIA X Danny Brown - ""Scaring the Hoes"

Finally some hip- hop willing to take risks and not just come rolling off the assembly line of an entertainment conglomerate. Detroit-bred Brown, just did a stint in rehab, so this was more than likely recorded before that vacation was in play. He brags a lot about various drugs, so maybe he is realer than most. Though at South x Southwest, he apologized for writing so many songs about drugs. Hopefully, sobriety won't ruin his weirdness. This album shows you do not need an assembly line of producers and songwriters if you have any talent. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/jpegmafiaxdanny-brown-scaring-hoes.html

6-M83- "Fantasy" The French electro-pop project finds itself stripped down to primary songwriter Anthony Gonzalez who worked on a large part of this album with live keyboardist Joe Berry. He also brought many of the live musicians he works with to aid in the sessions, which resulted in an album that washes by you like one wave of sound. https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/m83-fantasy.html

5-Death Index - "Civilized by a Lie"

I'm curious to know how this went under my radar. I am a big Merchandise fan, and since I love Carson Cox's voice, the 2016 album by this project was one of my favorites of that year. This time around the electronic nature of this project overtakes a more organic post-punk feel to the self-titled album. Even with the abrasive streak that runs through the bulk of this album the songs manage to win out.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/12/death-index-civilized-by-lie.html

 4-Tech N9ne - "Bliss"

The 51-year-old rapper is one of the rare artists in the game who cares about writing songs without taking it too far and getting lost in the industry's pop machine. He meets your expectations if you consider him to be one of the last great rappers still making music.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/tech-n9ne-bliss.html

3-Gunship - "Unicorn"

The 80's worshiping synth wave band continues to grow as songwriters on their third album. Once again there are plenty of guests helping out. Not all of these contributions are highlighted, though rather than writing to play to the strengths of the guest spots the electro trio is just focused on writing hooky songs which works just as well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/gunship-unicorn.html

2-Stranger Ranger -"Pure Music"

One of the more compelling forms pop music has taken on this year. I am a little late to the party as this is the band's fourth album, but glad I am finding it now.  Some kids might call this "vapor wave" but it does not have the neon bi-lighting to make this a fashion choice. Normally the breathy vocals that typically dominate this album might start to wear thin, but everything else sits in the right place to compensate for it.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/07/strange-ranger-pure-music.html

1-Depeche Mode -"Memento Mori"

7 years have passed since the release of  "Spirit".  Album number 15 finds the duo of Gahan and Wilder more inspired than they have been since "Ultra". Andy Fletcher's death gave the writing process more depth and meaning. Adversity is what it takes for the creative fires to burn the brightest since "Ultra' marked the departure of Alan Wilder and Gahan hitting a bottom with his substance issues. Stunning production and an immaculate mix allow interesting sounds to swirl in it. This album makes for a  logical new chapter. If this is the album they choose to end things with I would not blame them as this would be a high note to end it on. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/depeche-mode-memento-mori.html

Tech N9ne : "Bliss"

 The 51-year-old rapper is one of the rare artists in the game who care about writing songs without taking it to far and getting lost in the industry's pop machine. "Badge of Honor" shows he can write a catchy song, and still craft verses with something to say. "Knock" finds Conway the Machine joining him on the track, while he fires off rhymes with bullet-sharp aggression. Not as hooky as the first song, but it still works pretty well. His verses carry a more urgent tension on "KC Huh? KC What?" which finds him bringing some of the Kanas City local talents to the track. The flare for songwriting sparks back up to its potential with "They Know Meh" and keeps the momentum with a darker and more cinematic dynamic of "Tell Everyone".

" Things I Like" finds him busting off a list of what inspires him ranging from boobs, horror movies and drugs. He also has some musical preferences. The next moment that finds him doing something outside the box is on "WHAT" which finds him joining Kim Dracula. Lyrically things are chanted with a great deal of substance. This is not new for him as his career has been pretty consistent in that regard. It is also not the first time he has crossed over into rock sounds. Having been a regular at the Gathering , leading to more bookings at rock festivals, Tech knows where his audience lies. "Wess Paul Bennett" finds the faster flow he is known for keeping things moving while employing Nate Dogg-like melodies.  

"Pull Out"  finds him playing it safer by leaning in a more dumbed down direction that has more common with the current state of hip-hop. He has been in the game long enough for old school DNA give his mainstream dabbling to have more substance than what kids today are doing. There are several "Skit" tracks which I am ignoring as they do not con  tribute to the album, so I am just focusing on the actual songs. "Fatha Fig Ya" has enough groove to work, though not the album's best song. "Reach Us" has DJ scratching bringing a more old school feel. He continues to impress with varied lyrical themes. "Red Aura" relaxes into more of an R&B feel. Qveen Herby steps in for a verse that elevates her to one of the best guests on this album. 

"Screen" is about the kind of energy you let into your life, which is more conscious than most rap out today. "Drill Sargent' is marginally darker, with him popping off with the old-school feel in this song's veins. "Bro So Mo" switches up the song's narrative in a manner that rappers today have become too lazy to attempt. "I Met a Morph" falls back into more of an R&B-tinged groove. He weaves his voice around it well. Once again he gets into deeper topics like energy exchange, showing that some of his more primal verses are to appeal to the hip-hop status quo. "Deer Alley" has a more languid stoned malaise as he ponders why deer wander out into traffic. How high did he have to get the idea to write this song? I am not complaining. 

"2Happy" has enough of a hook to make the song work even though some of the verses sound like an Eminem B-side. "Got What I Wanted" closes the album with the kind of hit-and-run lyrical finesse that you want from him. There is a melodic hook that allows this song to check off all the boxes. I will give this album a 9.5, as he meets your expectations if you consider him to be one of the last great rappers still making music.