Aug 27, 2024
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Jan 3, 2024
Farce the Music's 30 Favorite Albums of 2023
I haven’t “loved” a Jason Isbell album since Southeastern, and didn’t really expect to feel that way about one again. Sure, almost everything he and the group have released has been critically beloved and well executed, it just hasn't affected me the same. That said, I love Weathervanes. Everything feels more natural and unforced than the previous few records; right in the pocket you might say. Every song has its own personality, yet fits right into place in the collection. The highs are stratospheric, and the lows aren’t lows - just letting off the gas a little. For the politically sensitive, any supposed ideologies only color the stories this time. There’s no telling, just showing - and that’s always hit me a lot harder than any expression of opinions could ever do. Weathervanes is damn near perfect, and for me, a welcome “comeback.” Favorite tracks: King of Oklahoma, Cast Iron Skillet, When We Were Close, Miles.
Tied for #31
Joe Stamm Band - Wild Man, Muscadine Bloodline - Teenage Dixie, Will Johnson - No Ordinary Crown, Ritch Henderson - Fallacies & Four-Letter Words, Treaty Oak Revival - Have a Nice Day, Joy Oladukun - Proof of Life, The Wilder Blue - Super Natural, Country Westerns - Forgive the City, Vincent Neil Emerson - The Golden Crystal Kingdom, Bella White - Among Other Things, Low Water Bridge Band - Back to the Valley, John R. Miller - Heat Comes Down, Nicholas Jamerson - Peace Mountain, Meg McRee - Is It Just Me?, Jake Worthington - s/t, Jason Eady - Mississippi, Jamie Harris - Boomerang Town, Tyler Childers - Rustin’ in the Rain, The Band of Heathens - Simple Things, Killer Mike - Michael, Metallica - 72 Seasons, Lance Roark - Better Man, Van Plating - Orange Blossom Child, Slaid Cleaves - Together Through the Dark, Brandy Clark - s/t, John Baumann - Border Radio, Ashley McBryde - The Devil I Know, Mason and the Gin Line - Sangre, The Pandhandlers - Tough Country, Dallas Moore - No God in Juarez, Del Barber - Almanac, Summer Dean - The Biggest Life, Marty Stuart - Altitude, Erin Enderlin - Bar Room Mirrors, Margo Price - Strays, Zach Bryan - s/t, Will Payne Harrison - Tioga Titan, Jessye DeSilva - Renovations, Channing Wilson - Dead Man, White Reaper - Asking for a Ride, and like 20 other albums.