I don’t blame anyone for missing some of the best 2023 indie music.
Like all years, 2023 had too many songs, too much buzz, way too much music for any mortal to keep track of. But now here is some help. These 3 records (probably) won’t make my Top 25 in 2023 but they are excellent releases. Listen to them, buy their music, get ready for 2023 indie music Year End Lists!
U.S. Highball (No Thievery, Just Cool)
U.S. Highball introduces record #4, No Thievery, Just Cool, with the lovely bubblegum indie pop of “Welcome to Hell.” While U.S. Highball promoters describe No Thievery in terms of the hooky choruses, “Welcome to Hell” has a terrific walkaway you’ll sing all day.
“Round and round the record spins.
It’s heading for the cutout bins.
You’re laying on the floor.
He’s heading out the door.”
Just 30 minutes in length, No Thievery, Just Cool, shoots out of the gates with a series of indie pop songs that are perfect length and clean pop structure. The arrangements by Glasgow’s Calvin Halliday and James Hindle put the innocent 80’s hooks right up front with no added fuss.
Here is the sparkling “Adjacent Donovan.”
No Thievery is a nice step forward for U.S. Highball. While I WANTED to love last year’s A Parkhead Cross of the Mind, the melodies weren’t as memorable and the record washed out a bit for me. No Thievery has a couple of twee numbers, cynical life observations on “Irresponsible Holiday,” chiming guitars on “Nicola” and 80’s sax on “Paris 2019.” Guests include label mate Jacob Ewald from Slaughter Dog, Beach.
Everything here wins. Order your copy from from Lame-O Records!
Grian Chatten (Chaos for the Fly)
Not one beat is missed on the solo release from Fontaines D.C. vocalist Grian Chatten. Chaos for the Fly is poetry, deliberately paced and confident. Chatten’s voice is unmistakable but he is immensely more personal here and the discordant moments, as on “Fairlies,” are even more affecting.
Chatten also abruptly changes course and offers very-not Fontaines cuts like the chamber pop song “Bob’s Casino.” It works perfectly and segues immediately into the torchlit piano ballad, “All of the People.”
Even as I write this, I realize Chaos for the Fly is so evoking, not many enthusiasts are sleeping on it. And it’s probably going to make my indie music 2023 Year End List. But I’ve spent 25 minutes spilling my feelings about Chatten, so I’m leaving it here.
Order Chaos for the Fly from the redoubtable Partisan Records.
The Bombshell Flowers (The Death of Me)
It’s been a good year for alternative Utah music! Setting aside briefly the wildly successful Kilby Block Party, this year saw Springville’s Little Moon won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. Then World’s Worst was recognized by Stereogum as one of the 40 best new bands of 2023. Not bad!
I want to step back for a second to recognize the band I am still looking forward to seeing live this year. The Bombshell Flowers have played a couple of notable venues this year and released the delightfully low-key and family friendly album Death of Me. Self-described as “your grandma’s favorite band,” The Bombshell Flowers give themselves too little credit.
A bit more muscular production would go miles and their live performances are also fun and crunchier. The Bombshell Flowers have all the hooks. Their notable benefactors notwithstanding, I recommend Death of Me without reservation. Here is “Japan.”