13th Floor Top 10 Albums Of 2023 (Marty’s Picks)

Submitted for your approval, The 13th Floor’s Top 10 Albums of 2023 as chosen by Marty Duda.

Let’s be honest, no one has the time to listen to everything these days, so this list is nothing close to definitive. But that won’t stop me from listing what I “feel” are the best albums of the past year. These days its feelings, not facts, that count, so I must be right! Anyone who knows me, knows what my number one album of the year is…

10. Troy Kingi & The Room Service – Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings (AAA) The 7th installation in Troy’s 10-10-10 series is described as “ambient instrumental vibe”. You won’t be wasting your precious time with this album. Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.

9. Blur – The Ballad Of Darren (Parlophone) Everyone seems to love this album and so do I. I call it: “a modern, mature rock and roll album made by a band that has been together and apart for over thirty years.” Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review

8. Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart (Highway 20/Thirty Tigers) In a year of comebacks (Blur, Rolling Stones) this is my “comeback of the year”. I say, “Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart is music for the living whether you’re 20 or 70.”. Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.

7. Ingrid and the Ministers – Boofhead (Self) An album inspired by idiots everywhere! From Wellington, this is Ingrid & Co’s second long player and its a winner. I had the nerve to say, “Blues riffs mixed with punk attitude…imagine ZZ Top fronted by Joan Jett”. Have you had the nerve to listen to Boofhead? Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.

6. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Weathervanes (Southeastern) Jason’s 6th album with the 400 Unit and they sound awesome. I wrote: ‘The music is classic Springsteen/Petty/Earle. There is a stinging guitar solo and plenty of power in the rhythm section, making these tracks feel very alive.” And the songs stand up with Jason’s best. Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.

5. Graham Parker & The GoldTops – Last Chance To Learn The Twist (Big Stir) Parker’s first album in five years finds the veteran rocker at his snarling best. He’s got long-time guitarist Martin Belmont on board and a clutch of cool new songs. And that voice? Well I wrote: “It cuts through the BS like a knife, it did back in 1976 when he and The Rumour released their first album, Howlin’ Wind, and it still does 46 years later.” Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review. 

 

4. Jazmine Mary – Dog (Self) Jazmine’s second album offers up more questions than answers. I wrote, “The sound is both sparse and lush with intriguing moments of rare beauty as a cello, or sax or trumpet sound at first otherworldly and simultaneously perfectly placed.” Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.

 

3. Various Artists – The Faithful: A Tribute To Marianne Faithfull (In The Q) Marianne has her 77th birthday today. And what better way to celebrate than to listen to the likes of Cat Power, Shirley Manson, Joan As Policewoman, Lydia Lunch and Iggy Pop sing her praises and her songs. Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review. 

 

2. Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo – Phantasmagoria In Blue (Mute) Looks like the former Bad Seed has a new muse. Mick Harvey and Mexican songstress Amanda Acevedo do their best Nancy & Lee with a wonderful collection of covers and originals. I wrote: “They play off each other with just the right amount of sexual tension, beauty and passion. Hearing Mick Harvey sing about his missing unicorn is worth the price of admission alone.” Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.

 

1. Ian Hunter – Defiance Part 1 (Sun) The former Mott Man is still rocking at age 84! Ian’s got an all-star cast helping out including Slash, Ringo Starr, Mike Campbell, Johnny Depp, Jeff Beck, Todd Rundgren and Joe Elliott. That’s all well and good, but they need songs to play and Ian can still write like his life depends on it. Can’t wait for Part 2! Click here to read the 13th Floor Album Review.