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

The 10 Pop Albums of 2023 ...so far

That time of year again . These lists serve as a decent snap shot of where the year is heading in terms of music. I have already received  promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my in-box, so they are really going to need to bring it in order to compete with the top five albums on this list. When it comes to pop what you are not going to see much of are big mainstream radio artists that are part of the music industry machine that spits bullshit out on an assembly line with two dozen producers and even more songwriters making a product for the sheep to consume. There are only two artists on this list that came from that machine and they both have risen above it unlike the bulk of their peers. 

What I want from my pop is catchy songs that have actual instruments being played, rather than just empty calories being pumped into my ears. My people refer to this sort of thing as their guilty pleasures, which I do not use that terms as anyone on this list is better than vapid shit kids on Tik Tok are dancing to. Hip Hop has pretty much been garbage this year, so don't hold your breath for any of that to appear, there are links to full review if you want to check these out and with all that said here are the top 10 pop album of 2023 so far. 

10- Gorillaz - "Cracker Island"

More of an honorable mention as it is far from their most compelling effort. This album is well done from a production stance, but loses inspiration in the third act as it becomes to streamlined

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/gorillaz-cracker-island.html

9-Sleep Token- '"Take Me Back to Eden" 

My prediction for band most likely to break big into a more mainstream audience goes to this band. Much like Ghost they mask up to disguise the fact they are a pop act, but a much better one than Ghost.  The vocals are soulful enough to show Sam Smith how it should be done. It mainly ballads or I would be compelled to listen to it more.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/sleep-token-take-me-back-to-eden.html
 

8-Lana Del Rey- "Did You Know There is a Tunnel..." 

Lana has more than enough melancholy to fall neatly within my tastes. This album finds her ditching the spoken word of "Chemtrails" and her last album seemed to be more of the same ole same ole from her, as she languished on the sea side of California. To some extent that is who she is, but she needed to switch it up a bit. This album does that while making fun rainy day music. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/lana-del-rey-did-you-know-that-there-is.html
 

7-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 and the seemed to have gotten really high and made something that sounds more like floating on a cloud than the pop music of Tik Tok. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/m83-fantasy.html

 

 

6- Fever Ray- "Radical Romantics"

Swedish singer Karin Drejier from the Knife continues her journey into moody electronic music as Fever Ray with third album under this moniker. The album's strength lies in how she uses her voice as an instrument along with the interesting beats that provide the backdrop for her uncanny pipes. I think this lines up well with what she has done in the past 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/fever-ray-radical-romantics.html
 

5- the national- "First Two Pages of Frankenstein" 

First off the album has nothing to do with Frankenstein, but it is still pretty great. They are back to their moody ways , and the easy listening mood of the album brings heavy replay value, but there is a uniformity to the beige shades the songs are colored with.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-national-first-two-pages-of.html
 

 

4-Boygenius - "the record" 

There is something lyrical cutting about the tone of this album . It is a super group of indie sirens who still embrace the more transgressive elements of their origin stories while still being able to connect with your average Taylor Swift fan. In fact Tay Tay herself called them her favorite new band. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/boygenius-record.html

 

3-Miley Cyrus -"Endless Summer Vacation" 

Perhaps the pop hooks are not twerking in your face as they drip with sex sugar, but the more mature effort provides a more serious look into who Miley is at this stage in the game. Not here best album, but it is better than everything else on the radio. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/miley-cyrus-endless-summer-vacation.html

 

2- Depeche Mode- "Memento Mori"  

This album  picks up where they left off on "Ultra" and 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. It paints a clear picture of Depeche Mode playing to their strengths. 

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

 

1-Pierce the Veil- "Jaws of Life" 

I found these guys originally through the POP GOES PUNK series , and what they did well on their contributions to those albums they have quantified. This album displays some of the smartest  song writing , and emotionally vulnerable singing makes a great combination for those who like the emphasis on pop melodies when it comes to rock music. They even do pop better than the current string of pop artists and do not need a team of producers to do it. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/pierce-veil-jaws-of-life.html

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 what is a somewhat difficult album to review, in the manner it washes by you like one wave of sound. The opening track serves more as an intro than a song that stands on its own. As the album progresses things get more song-focused, from grooving instrumental, to almost poppy, but too surreal for radio play. Oddly enough the more instrumental "Oceans Niagara' was the lead single. 

 "Us and the Rest" makes for a pretty fair case that this guy at the very least is smoking a decent amount of weed. "Earth to Sea" is the first song that grooves enough to really make someone wade onto the dance floor. An almost Abba-like haze is cast over this cyber-disco. His androgynously detached vocal coast around the synths. "Radio, Far, Gone" is like if Pink Floyd wrote "Wish You Were Here" for Euro pop radio in 2023. David Gilmore went to hit his weed pen when it was time to record the solo that never made it on the album. Sometimes the atmosphere is laid on so thick the song drifts by like a cloud, resulting in a few listens to digest. While it sounds cool I am not sure if a song like  "Deceiver" is best served as an instrumental for the first five minutes. 

The layered choral vocals on the title track feel like you are waking up from a dream before the funky bass comes in to counter balance the pan flutes. It's pretty much dance music for elves so the title is fitting. The atmosphere swallows the song whole before it is allowed to finish it's though. While cocaine was fuel for disco in the 70's , the modern take is for weed smokers. It drifts with detached indifference, until the chorus soars. Female vocals emerge here. The thickly layered clouds of sound, make the choruses less urgent. Not a deal breaker, but nothing really punches on this album. I would have also preferred more guitar in the mix. 

"Sunny Boy" finds the more organic elements in a distant lethargy as they try to come into focus. This takes a minute and a half to happen, when it does things get much more upbeat. Female vocals help out when it comes to making the chorus bigger. "Kool Nuit" finds Kaela taking over the mic, for a multilayered drone that finds it's groove. The album closes with "Dismemberment Bureau". It is another subdued drift of ambiance with machine elves singing in the distance. This song is steeped in a deeper lethargy painted in pastels. I will give this album a 9, as it's an easy listen and pleasing to the ears, I would have to be waking up or really stoned to listen to it, but it works for what they set out to do.