Best of 2023.5 (Josh)

We’re taking stock as another year blazes past us faster than we can comprehend. As always, there is a lot of great music that we’ve been loving, which we’ll roll out this week. Check out Josh’s favorite albums, songs and shows from the first half of 2023. Enjoy!

Best National Albums (Not Ranked)

Billy Woods &  Kenny Segal – Maps

Bill Orcutt – Jump On It

Emergency Group – Inspection Of Cruelty

Water Damage – II

Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective – *1

Bobby Lee – Endless Skyways

Mandy, Indiana – Pinking Shears

Kalia Vandever – We Fell in Turn

Steve Gunn & David Moore – Reflections Vol. 1: Let the Moon Be a Planet

Jessie Ware – That! Feels! Good!

Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World

North Americans – Long Cool World

Elkhorn – On The Whole In All Directions

Powers / Pulice / Rolin – Prism

Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA – Scaring the Hoes

Altin Gün – Ask

Best Reissue

Arthur Russell – Picture of Bunny Rabbit

Best Minnesota Albums (Not Ranked)

IE – Junk Body

MMYYKK – The Midst of Things

Elskavon – Origins

Cole Pulice – If I Don’t See You in the Future, I’ll See You in The Pasture

Florina – Candy Wrappers

Slow Clarity – Holding Pattern

Paris1919 – Future Archaeology

Miami Dolphins – Melon Baller

Falcon Arrow — Patterns in Noise

BEST SHOWS

1. Totally Gross National Party at Icehouse
2. Brass Band Happy Hour at Music Box Village (New Orleans)
3. Armand Hammer at the Dakota
4. Etran De L’Aïr at Turf Club
5. Yo La Tengo at First Avenue
6. Drone Not Drones at Cedar
7. Zoh Amba & Chris Corsano – Rhizome DC (Washington D.C)
8. Every single Tiny Tuesday I’ve attended at Eagles Club #34
9. Every show I saw at Mirror Lab (many)