Let’s Start Here., the record, and more: 2023 ‘one album per day’ highlights
Every day this year, I’m listening to something new. Follow along, or don’t!
As a low-pressure New Year’s Resolution in 2022, I decided to listen to one album I’d never heard every single day. Nothing was off limits — an album I’d only heard a few songs off of, one I’d been meaning to listen to but hadn’t gotten around to yet, or anything else I’d never heard (or heard of!). The only rule was I had to have never heard the album top to bottom. I made a playlist of my favorite songs from each album (which ended up being nearly 51 hours long), kept a way-too-detailed tracker in my notes app, and at the end of the year compiled a leaderboard of the top, and bottom, rated albums out of the 365 I tracked.
After spending way too many hours in front of my calculator at the end of 2022, I decided to level up this year, moving to a color-coded Google spreadsheet, complete with an area for me to keep notes as I listen, a function to produce monthly averages, and the ability to track my genre and release year habits to make sure I’m never leaning into one area of music too much. Like last year, I listen to any album, any genre, from any year, recommended by anyone, whether it be a coworker, TikTok, my parents, or a complete stranger. 2023 releases are also included. As long as it’s new to my ears, I listen.
What follows are my highlights from the first three months of 2023. For each month, I’m including the album that received the highest rating, some honorable mentions (the second, third, and fourth highest-rated of the month), and a Shock of the Month: either an album that blew away my expectations, or completely let me down.
(It feels appropriate to add here that this is my opinion, and my opinion really means nothing. If you like/agree with what I have to say, cool! But if you don’t, that is also cool! I am not a professional music critic. Not looking to ruffle any feathers here, no sir.)
JANUARY
HIGHEST RATED: Remember Your North Star, Yaya Bey (2022)
Remember Your North Star is both long and short (18 songs across its 34-minute run-time), so it took me a few listens to get fully immersed. I was recommended this album three separate times (by my roommate, my boss, and if you count Pitchfork’s ‘Best of 2022’ album rundown), so I had high expectations going in. It’s an overall easy listen, but that doesn't take away from the emotion and vulnerability packed throughout. Everything is connected — Yaya Bey takes you on a seamless journey between genres (soul, reggae, afrobeat, jazz) that makes perfect sense to the ear. You notice and appreciate the changes, but they’re not jarring. Nothing feels forced, and everything is done with just the right amount of ease, making it seem like Bey simply sat down one day and the album poured out of her from start to finish. It was, rightfully so, one of the most acclaimed releases of 2022, and still remains in my weekly (if not daily) rotation.
Top tracks include: “keisha,” “meet me in brooklyn,” “reprise”
Honorable Mentions: Wave, Patti Smith (1979); NO THANK YOU, Little Simz (2022); Paul’s Boutique, Beastie Boys (1989)
Shock of the Month: Trick, Alex G (2012)
Previously only knowing him for the (false) rumors of lice breakouts at recent shows, I didn't take myself for an Alex G fan, but I realized I’d just never listened to any of his music. I think I was expecting it to all sound the same/go by without me really noticing, but I was super tuned into everything from start to finish, and had a few standout favorites that I still listen to. Overall, Alex G has more respect/cred in my head moving forward. Not that that matters to him, but it’s cool for me!
FEBRUARY
HIGHEST RATED: Let's Start Here., Lil Yachty (2023)
Let’s Start Here wasn’t originally on my radar until I read this article from Rolling Stone, in which Lil Yachty talks about his influences and the new creative direction he took on this project. All Yachty had to do was mention Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, and he immediately got my attention. After his remix of Tame’s “Breathe Deeper” in 2021, I was curious to see what his time with Parker did with the trajectory of his solo music, and if it would just end up sounding like an MGMT ripoff (also a cited inspiration of Yachty’s).
This could, technically, count as a Shock of the Month, because it really blew away my expectations. Giving it a good solid listen-through with my headphones at a near-deafening volume, I heard so much growth production-wise from previous projects. This album serves as a wonderful proclamation of a new direction in Yachty’s career, and his success moving into psychedelic rock makes me excited for what he has planned next.
Top tracks include: “running out of time,” “THE zone~,” “The Alchemist.”
Honorable Mentions: Daddy’s Home, St Vincent (2021); Illuminations, Buffy Sainte-Marie (1969), Desire I Want to Turn into You, Caroline Polacheck (2023)
Shock of the Month: Debut, Björk (1993)
Consider my expectations exceeded. Last year, 1994’s Post was on my one album/day list, and it just didn’t land—something wasn’t clicking in my head the way it does for Björk’s millions of dedicated fans. After kicking myself for being “uncultured,” I decided to give Debut a listen this year, and whatever it was that needed to click, clicked. I was ECSTATIC that I felt like I “understood” Björk the way everyone else did. Aside from my own internal dialogues, this album really does just have it all, and thinking about the fact that it came out in ’93 makes my head spin. The last place you’ll ever catch me is the club, but this album almost had me there. AHEAD OF HER TIME. But everyone knows that.
MARCH
HIGHEST RATED: the record, boygenius (2023)
This was probably expected. Not sure if anything I could say here can compare to my live notes reaction from THE review spreadsheet, so here it is:
“okayyyyy giving CSN harmony realness in the opening song I’m already tearing up; obviously love all the ones that already got released; UGHHHHH their voices just sound so good together its unreal, so many layers and tones all so unique and distinct but also able to blend together; cool about it is making me lose my mind — these lyrics; Revolution 0 is such a beautiful Beatles homage jeeeeez they knew how to get me. instant classic. I’m like feeling lucky to be alive and conscious when this album dropped; ‘you said my music is mellow maybe im just exhausted’ like okay yes me too — THE ME AND MY DOG INTERPOLATION GOOD LORD. what a way to go out. the boys have done it, not like I thought they wouldn’t. at its core it’s just a story about friends hanging out and loving each other. how beautiful”
Top tracks include: “Not Strong Enough,” “Cool About It,” “Revolution 0,” “Letter to an Old Poet”
Honorable Mentions: Mama’s Gun, Erykah Badu (2000); Aladdin Sane, David Bowie (1973); Ophilia, Psychic Mirrors (2021)
Shock of the Month: Fantasy, M83 (2023)
In true 2010s Tumblr indie alt fashion, I went through my fair share of time being obsessed with M83’s Hurry Up We’re Dreaming (2011), so naturally, I was expecting similar greatness for Fantasy. It definitely has a few that I enjoy, but overall, I was slightly disappointed. I’ve given it a few relistens, and it still doesn't hold a candle to HUWD. Do I need to listen to it over again even more times? Or am I just not the electronic/dance music-leaning girlie I once was? I don’t know if we’ll ever know.
Looking back at this list now, it’s pretty interesting that the top rated for each month have all been 2022 or 2023. Especially because recently, I’ve gone back into my ‘60s/‘70s comfort listens with a vengeance (thanks, Daisy Jones and the Six) (more on that soon). Either way, I’m pretty pleased with the listening I’ve accomplished in the early days of 2023. Hopefully, I’ll keep up with the quarterly updates, (or monthly, if I'm really feeling it) but in the meantime, follow along on this year's playlist to see daily updates, and my complete list of listens for the year so far. Onward!
