We’re nearing the end of April (!) and I was determined to get this out before then. I’m already behind my own schedule, because life has been non-stop crazy the last few weeks. I think a large part was also not having a Carefully Curated episode to promote (there are more on the way) but it felt weird only promoting playlists. But that’s what I do and perhaps that’s why you’re here? Let’s get to it.
Top Albums & Songs - March 2023
Here are my top albums from last month featured on the "2023: Favorite Songs" playlist:
And here are the Top 13 songs from last month:
After M83 topped the chart 2 months in a row, I decided to make this chart have no artist repeats in back to back month. This will be more challenging for me, but also very fun.
boygenius tops the chart with their incredible track "Not Strong Enough", which showcases the incredible vocal harmonies of Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers. I enjoyed the nod to Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough” so much that I put those songs next to each other in my Spring Rotation playlist (see below). Their album the record lived up to the hype for me, although I feel I haven’t listened as much as I’ve wanted to yet. Favorite tracks: Not Strong Enough, Satinist
Yves Tumor's "Lovely Sewer" takes us on a journey through an eerie soundscape filled with soaring vocals & that sweet 80s bass sound. I ended up really enjoying their 5th record Praise A Lord… more than the singles led me to believe I would, and I thought they were much better in the context of the album (which happens a lot).
Favorite tracks: Lovely Sewer, Fear Evil Like Fire, Purified By the Fire
Alaska Reid's "Back To This" provides a dreamy dose of indie rock, while Jenny Lewis returns with "Psychos" with a chorus that’s been stuck in my head for weeks. Jenny’s 5th solo record Joy’all is out in June. Nation of Language's "Sole Obsession" is another standout, with some infectious synth-pop I’ve come to love from this group over the last few years. Their first two records are some of my favorite from this decade so far, and I’m hoping their upcoming third album Strange Disciple will stand alongside them.
The rest of the countdown…
Caroline Rose gets personal on "Everywhere I Go I Bring The Rain"
Momma's "Bang Bang" is an 90s alt “ode to sex”
Bartees Strange's "Daily News" was a bonus track on the vinyl release of 2022’s Farm To Table
The Beths' "Watching The Credits" is a shimmering indie pop b-side from 2022’s Expert In A Dying Field
Tanukichan's "Like You" is a dreamy shoegaze track
Suki Waterhouse's "To Love" is a sultry rock track
Wicca Phase Springs Eternal's "Moving Without Movement" is a slice of catchy synth-driven alt pop
Rounding out the playlist is Christine and the Queens with "To be honest" and if you haven’t seen their recent performance of this track on Colbert, it’s well worth a watch!
Playlist: Spring Rotation 🌼
I’ve been making playlists for each season of the year since 2011. I used to strictly feature new music on these playlists. It has evolved into featuring classic songs as well. This Spring Rotation playlist was recently featured on Adam Offitzer’s Hear Hear & there are some other really great Spring playlists featured.
Album of the Month: M83 - Fantasy
About a week ago I caught M83 live at The Eastern in Atlanta, GA. Their new live show blew me away. My introduction to M83 was 2008’s Saturdays = Youth, which was the soundtrack to my college years. I first saw M83 in concert back in 2012 & they instantly became one of my favorite live acts I had seen. Their band lineup has changed a lot over the years, and each tour has been unique. The last M83 album that had a proper tour was 2016’s Junk, which received mixed reviews. Personally, I consider myself a Junkie (which means I loved it). I thought it was such a fun record that translated even better into their live show. “Road Blaster” was my top song that year.
The wait for their 9th album Fantasy was a long one. It was described as “an alternate world that Gonzalez has created as an escape from the disconnected world we live in today.” There are bits and pieces of each previous M83 album that I hear in this record. It’s a special record. I’ve mentioned previously how much I love “Earth To Sea” and no matter how many times I hear it, I still get goosebumps at the 5:03 mark. It was even better live.
Kaela Sinclair, who joined the band during the Junk tour, is featured heavily on this album as a songwriter & musician. Her vocals add so much to songs like “Amnesia” and “Sunny Boy”. I really enjoyed reading about her life-changing M83 experience & what the last several years have been like in this interview with the Dallas Observer.
Their setlist is special this time around. They play most of Fantasy. They also revisit 2003’s Dead Cities, Read Seas & Lost Ghosts by playing three tracks from that record. It turned 20 years old a few weeks ago. And of course, “Midnight City” is there, complete with a sax solo from Joe Berry.
I highly recommend reading Grant Sharple’s profile on M83 from Paste last month where he dives into the new album along with his own relationship with their music.
That’s all I got! Take care.
- Patrick