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Sputnikmusic Staff’s Q3 Playlist 2023

Welcome to the third installment for our 2023 quarterly playlist! Feel free to jam the playlist below while reading what our writers had to say about each selection. Tell us what your favorites are in the comments, any new artists you may have discovered here, or let us know what we missed!

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Tracklist:

Angelo De Augustine – “Memory Palace”
Toil and Trouble

Proving himself as more than just the best Sufjan knockoff ever, De Augustine has now successfully built the cutest little unique kingdom all to himself, perfected on his 4th LP, and you should visit. The melancholic ivy spiraling around “Memory Palace”, in particular, is surprisingly warm. More than that: it’s the slow-burning summer HIT that never was. –Asleep

Bearings – “Howie, You’re a Freak”
The Best Part About Being Human

Every once in a while I delude myself into thinking that I have outgrown pop punk. Next thing you know, “Howie, You’re a Freak” deploys its incredibly infectious chorus to work its way into my head and overtake my summer. Dammit. At least pop punk will never outgrow me, either. –jesper

Big Thief – “Vampire Empire”
Vampire Empire / Born For Loving You (7″)

Apparently people on TikTok were mad that the studio version was different to the one they performed on Jimmy Fallon. Rookie mistake. –Blush

blink-182 – “MORE THAN YOU KNOW”
ONE MORE TIME / MORE THAN YOU KNOW (single)

The newest and best variation of the Trojan Horse involves blink-182 sneaking a previously unmentioned banger into the release of their much-hyped “we’re-still-buds” ballad, the dangerously sugary “ONE MORE TIME”. The much superior “MORE THAN YOU KNOW” is like a melting pot of various blinkcarnations (huh?) over the years. Dark Mark spits some “Dogs Eating Dogs”-style verses which give way to Tom’s punky prechorus and hook right from Box Car Racer, only for a breakdown into dejected-sounding harmonies and jazzy clicks that “Violence” fans might start to shiver over. Whether you miss Enema‘s toilet-trained nursery rhymes or Untitled‘s genre-best swings for the fences, “MORE THAN YOU KNOW” has it all, just mixed louder and all-caps stylised as 2023 demands. –Rowan

Brutus (BE) – “Love Won’t Hide the Ugliness”
Love Won’t Hide the Ugliness (single)

A delightful surprise from the Unison Life recording sessions, the rolling boil that leads into the song’s climactic final third is resplendent. The interplay between the strident snare-and-cymbal progression and searing guitars give weight to Stefanie Mannaerts’ desperate, yet hopeful “I will follow you – just you” in the final stanza. –Jom

Chepang – “Na”
Swatta

I’ve thought for a year or so that grindcore is the most entertaining (and certainly the most time-efficient) school of metal to keep [current year] tabs on, but in that time Chepang are perhaps the first band who have both epitomised everything I originally loved about the genre and fucked it the fuck up in a way that’s revolutionised my belief in its creative potential. “Na” is a heart-stoppingly tense piece that constantly threatens to buckle under its own weight, but comes together in a set of fits and starts few bands would have the chemistry to navigate — its dynamics are stunningly nuanced and, oh baby, don’t we all just love a melodious sax payoff. –jotW

The Clientele – “Lady Grey”
I Am Not There Anymore

The Clientele might be my favorite band at the moment, and their new record I Am Not There Anymore does nothing to discourage that bold claim — presenting an up-to-snuff batch of the group’s standard catchy and wistful indie pop fare while also expanding their style through more ambitious experiments. “Lady Grey” falls more into “regular The Clientele” territory — in the best way. It’s been stuck in my head a lot the past few months, and that’ll probably be the case for you as well. –Sunnyvale

Disclosure – “Higher Than Ever Before”
Alchemy

If covid-banger Energy was Disclosure’s chance to reconnect with their first love (house and garage), Alchemy goes even further back to their roots. There is no guest or ultra-recognizable sample here: just a succession of house bangers tinged with garage rhythms. The Lawrence brothers have finally decided to make the kind of music they’d like to sweat to in a club rather than the kind that would once again open the doors to the mainstream. When the (simple but oh-so-efficient) formula of synths + loop + vocal sample produces a result as immediately danceable as on “Higher Than Ever Before”, it’s clear that this can only be the work of enthusiasts who have relegated their thirst for moolah to second place. –dedex

Filter – “Threshing Floor”
The Algorithm

Filter have always maintained a good streak with the heavy songs in their catalog. “Threshing Floor” is perhaps the hardest hitting track off their latest album, with powerful, chugging guitars topped by Richard’s screaming. The chorus is really catchy, and the slow-burning riffs only add to the punitive atmosphere. –Raul

Genesis Owusu – “Tied Up!”
Struggler

It seems my colleagues were less enthused about this streamlined sophomore effort, and perhaps understandably so — but I thoroughly enjoy how brilliantly sequenced Struggler is as it vacillates from genre to genre. “Tied Up!” encourages introspection and perseverance in the face of adversity, and the fun lyrical wordplay is amplified with the song’s wickedly funky backdrop. –Jom

Goose – “Elmeg the Wise”
Autumn Crossing

Goose have become one of the most pleasant unexpected surprises of the past few years with one simple trick. The aspiring jam band traded their lengthy freakouts for simple, gorgeous indie rock arrangements on last year’s Dripfield, and continue to drip-feed the results of those prolific recording sessions in EPs since then. The latest, Autumn Crossing, is the long-awaited studio cut of a fan-favourite live trilogy where a folky fable about allegorical travellers morphs into a beautiful Pink Floyd-esque jam and back again, culminating in the truly stunning “Elmeg the Wise”. Singer Rick Mitarotonda flexes his gorgeous vocal chords for a yearning ballad about — well I don’t know exactly, and am loathe to guess — but if the final round of the “Keep my hands sewn on Lord” refrain doesn’t raise the goosebumps up on your arm, I guess I’m just making all these puns for absolutely nothing. –Rowan

H1-KEY – “Seoul (Such a Beautiful City)”
H1-KEY 2nd Mini Album [Seoul Dreaming]

A lovely, shiny tune from Kpop newcomers H1-KEY that gives David Bowie’s “Modern Love”-type dance disco a modern spin. Despite its tourism ad-ready title, there’s a vibrant, youthful vibe to it, plus the quartet’s silky vocal melodies are just as addictive. –Raul

Hail the Sun – “Mind Rider”
Divine Inner Tension

Even if this premiered as a debut single back in Q1, “Mind Rider”‘s opening 14 seconds might wind up being my favorite snapshot on this record. While there are some other unique notables, such as the excoriating “Tithe” and John Wayne Gacy-themed “Under the Floor”, “Mind Rider” exemplifies the all-gas, no-brakes fervor expected from this Californian quintet. –Jom

Heathermint – “Earl Grey”
Feline

Remember when up-and-coming act The Beatles released their song “All You Need is Love”? Me neither, I’m not that ancient. As such, I propose that this statement is false and “All You Need is Crunchy Gazey Alt Rock” is much more poignant and true. Heathermint fulfills this need. You’re welcome. –jesper

Hemi Hemingway – “It’s So Cruel (Lovin’ You)”
Strangers Again

Hemi Hemingway (stage name for Shuan Blackwell) is just different. His sound resides somewhere between country/Americana and ’60s pop, with maybe just a dash of dive-bar rock thrown in for good measure. “It’s So Cruel (Lovin’ You)” is one of the best representations of everything Blackwell can do; from the welcome saxophone solo to the way his fever-pitch singing almost bursts into an all-out scream… here, his passion is on clear display for everyone to witness. –Sowing

How to Care for Flowers – “In A New Light”
For a Brief Moment I Felt the Sun​’​s Warmth, and
Now the Cold Stings Worse Than It Ever Did Before

For emotional music that cuts straight to your soul, I’m not sure you can do much better than How to Care for Flowers. “In A New Light” sounds like an even more accessible La Dispute, fusing frenzied shouts with unforgettable melodies. It’s the ideal blend of catchiness and anger/despair, making for an addictingly sad experience. –Sowing

John Donne – “Harvest of Souls”
Hard Times

Best kept secret in the whole folken universe, John Donne (yes the poet) has done another immaculate thing with Hard Times: bottling that weird ethereal feeling between happy and sad, and electrifying it with enigmatism and spirit and love. All 9 of its shimmering oaken nuggets are worth your time, but start with “Harvest of Souls”. –Asleep

Logan Ledger – “Where Will I Go”
Golden State

Logan Ledger is a throwback-styled country singer who can carry an entire song with just his voice. But on Golden State, we’re also blessed with an absolutely mesmerizing atmosphere. “Where Will I Go” is the somber, but slightly hopeful, closing track — it’s the best song on the album, and it leaves you longing for whatever might be looming around the corner for one of the genre’s most promising new artists. –Sowing

Mairo – “nouvelle écriture”
omar chappier

Mairo makes a point of trying every rap subgenre on which he can lay his spitting game. Boom bap, trap, and even jersey drill have been frameworks on which the Swissboi has painted his half-hardcore, half-conscious pen, and “nouvelle écriture” (“new writing”) is the occasion for his tense flow to follow the beat’s abstract urgency closely. Factor in impressive productivity (three EPs this year), and you’ve got one of the most exciting figures in new-gen Francophone rap. –dedex

Mick Jenkins – “Guapanese”
The Patience

Mick Jenkins’ “Guapanese” doesn’t so much “tackle materialism” as it does brutalise the very thought of it — make you feel like if you ever participated in it you’d be disappointing one of your favourite songs of 2023. –Blush

Mitski – “Heaven”
The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We

It’s difficult, maybe impossible, to find the words for how “Heaven” makes me feel. Other than, let’s say, “heaven”. –Blush

The National – “Turn Off the House”
Laugh Track

Contrary to everything and everyone, I’ve remained aware that The National are Still Good and it was a pleasure to be vindicated this month by a set of songs so strong they didn’t even promote them. “Turn Off the House” is a sneaky highlight on Laugh Track, seeing Berninger contemplate either detaching from modern society or suicide over a tight Devendorfs/Dessners groove. To hear the layman-poet-laureate Berninger revisit his canon of blue-collar bangers (see: “Baby, We’ll be Fine”, “Racing Like a Pro”, “Rylan”) in 2023 is as welcome as it is heartbreaking, especially when the simple but arresting chorus “you’re bailing out, you’re free of it now” stretches out like a looming double shift you have no choice but to face. –Rowan

Ruby Haunt – “Rainbird”
Between Heavens

Few things feel better than your favourite reliably consistent relaxdremcore L.A.-based duo experimenting with more trippy electronics while retaining all the soothing properties of their wonderful music. Admittedly, “Rainbird” is the first and only time this has happened, but it sure feels good. –jesper

SOUL GLO – “If I Speak” (Shut The Fuck Up)
If I Speak (Shut The Fuck Up) (single)

SOUL GLO are the most exciting band in punk right now, period. They have just released another song. Need I say more? –Asleep

Sparklehorse – “Falling Down”
Bird Machine

Mark Linkous has been gone (far too soon) for thirteen years now, but his music still has the power to enrapture, a feat emphasized by the recent emergence of previously unreleased material in Bird Machine. It’s as great as you could hope for, and a touching experience all around given the circumstances, but nothing on the record hits me in the feels quite like “Falling Down”. Thoughtful, intimate, and sad like Linkous’ best work, “Falling Down” is an absolute gift. –Sunnyvale

Sprain – “Reiterations”
The Lamb As Effigy

I usually make some effort to spotlight overlooked releases on these playlists, but as The Lamb As Effigy, Swatta and softscars have deposited three of 2023’s chief highlights in as few months, it’s only appropriate that us soggy peons reflect the long-awaited sea change in the year. There are other (much) longer tracks that could fill this slot for Sprain, but “Reiterations” is the most no-nonsense, certainly most high-octane, unpacking of their core appeal: grabbing the postmodern nonsense-bull by the horns and, in stark contrast to Black Midi, Model/Actriz, early BCNR and all the other bloodless acts of this decade’s uncanny valley of self-aware rock music, actively allowing it to gore them just enough to prompt a visceral performance for the ages. Sprain are by no means shy of self-conscious fluff, but they make this a springboard for their feedback-ridden brimstone with quite possibly peerless success. –jotW

Tideless – “Fields At Dawn”
Eye of Water

Probably my favorite song to emerge from any metal subgenre this year, “Fields At Dawn” sees Tideless at the pinnacle (so far) of their formula, blending shoegaze/psych/prog with death doom. When it works, it works. Simply an amazing tune. –Sunnyvale

yeule – “inferno”
softscars

If you listen closely to what it’s about, “inferno” is a cut-and-dry breakup track; if you’re in step with how it expresses this content, it’s arguably the most touching love song yeule has penned to date. The disjuncture there neatly mirrors the relationship between background trauma and healing on their excellent new record softscars, but where much of the album adopts an appropriately maximalist palette for yeule’s newfound vitality, “inferno” says the most with least. Its bleary electropop backing places maximum emphasis on yeule’s monosyllabic delivery, which they navigate with all the weight and delicacy of a precious secret being shared; the track’s meticulously placed hooks are just par for the course at this point. –jotW

Yussef Dayes (feat. Venna & Charlie Stacey) – “Black Classical Music”
Black Classical Music

Yussef Dayes is a jazz drummer who released an album, and it’s not all about drums! Black Classical Music (dope name) opens with a demonstration of how modern jazz bands can deliver a punchy performance that calls for all present forces. Dayes’ frenetic drumming and Venna’s propulsive sax dictate the rhythm, allowing Charlie Stacey to take over the soundscape with his piano shredding. When Black Classical Music is that colourful, it makes for some of the best modern jazz, further confirming London’s importance. –dedex

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Participating staff writers:

AsleepInTheBack | BlushfulHippocrene | dedex | insomniac15 | JesperL | JohnnyoftheWell | Jom | Rowan5215 | Sowing | Sunnyvale