Here is my 2023 Top Un-Ten. Why is mine different? Because it’s damn hard to be successful at music, or any type of art, and people should be recognized for that, and because it's hard to rank my favorites. This is what I listened to this past year. Some I liked better than others, but it’s all good. All of it. My list is mostly albums, with a favorite song or two listed for each. A few songs are just singles.

Enjoy! I look forward to what 2024 has in store musically, as well.

#1

Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies – Weeklings –“Lola”

Arthur Alexander Steppin’ Out! – “Woman,” “Oh Lulu, Won’t You Be My Girl”

The Big Believe Super Impose – “Doin’ My Utmost,” Girl On Wire”

Bobby Sutliff Only Ghosts Remain Plus – “Elam Bridge,” “Griffin Bay,” “Same Way Tomorrow”

The Armoires – “Music and Animals” (single)

Boygenius The Record – “Not Strong Enough,” “$20,” “Cool About It”

Chris Church Radio Transient – “Going ’Til We Go,” “One More Chance To Get Over You”

Dolph Chaney Mug – “Mr. Eli” “Good Luck With All That”

Flashcubes Pop Masters – “Get The Message,” “Gudbuy T’Jane”

Graham Parker Last Chance To Learn The Twist – “We Did Nothing,” “Sun Valley”

The Grip Weeds Under The Influence Of Christmas (reissue) – “I Believe In Father Christmas,” “Christmas, Bring Us”

The Lunar Laugh In The Black – “Born Weird,” “Allegiance”

The Midnight Callers Rattled Humming Heart – “Baby Let Me Be,” “Girl On The Run,” Maggie,” “New York Tramp”

The New Pornographers Continue as a Guest – “Really Really Light.”

Nick Frater Bivouac – “Keep it Simple, Stupid,” “Will It Be Enough?”

Popsicko Off To A Bad Start – “Some Mother’s Son,” “No Better Time”

Queens Of The Stone Age In Times New Roman… – “Paper “Machete,” “Emotion Sickness”

Ratboys The Window – “It’s Alive!” “The Window”

Shplang Thank You, Valued Customer – “Understood,” “Look Me Over”

sparkle*jets u.k. Best of Friends – “He’s Coming Out,” “I Want A Pony,” “Mahnsanto”

Speedy Ortiz Rabbit Rabbit – “Plus One,” ”Ghostwriter”

SUPER 8 HOOPLA – “Good To Be Free,” “OurTown”

SUPER 8 Raindrops On Roses – “It’s My Party,” “I Will Dare,” Cherry Cherry”

The Anderson Council The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon – “Buying A House,” “Alone With You,” “Tarot Toronto”

Tony Valentino Dirty Water Revisited – “Dirty Water,” “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White,” “Vicki”

Wednesday Rat Saw God – “Chosen To Deserve,” “Quarry,” “Bull Believer”

#2

Mitski The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We – “Bug Like An Angel,” ”My Love Mine All Mine”

Old Town Crier A Night with Old Town Crier – “Come Home, Caroline!” “I’ll Find a Way,” “Della May”

Steve Stoeckel The Power of And – “Laura Lynn,” “The Monsters Under My Bed”

TRIGGER CUT ROGO – “Way Down The Border,” “Oxcart,” “Hooray Hooray”

 The Weeklings, with their seamless blend of classic rock and today's indie rock, make both look easy. It’s a lot of fun to listen to their new album Raspberry Park, and also to play 'spot the reference' with the songs.

Zeek Weekling aka Bob Burger was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: I like the way you put the 60s together with today’s music. How easy is that, and do you have fun with it?

Bob Burger: It’s not hard for us. At this point, the Beatles and the ‘60s are pretty ingrained in our DNA! And yes, it is a lot of fun! We love hiding Easter Eggs in our music!

AW: I like the covers on here. What were you looking for when you chose songs to cover? Is Raspberry Park a pun on Asbury Park, NJ?

BB: We didn’t consciously search for songs to cover. I think the covers were mostly Glen’s selections. But if we see an interesting take on a cover, then we’ll go for it. Raspberry Park is certainly a reference to Asbury Park (from which the band is based). But as a power pop band, it’s also a nod to one of our favorites, The Raspberries.

AW: You cover Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” as rockabilly. Did the song seem made for that as a fun twist on The Boss?

BB: I don’t think the song was made for it. Our take is bright and rhythmic, even though the lyrics are pretty dark. But yes, it was a fun twist on a great song by The Boss!

AW: I like the instrumentals on the album. Was that a fun way to break things up a bit?

BB: We think the instrumentals and song snippet “interludes” are a nice way to break things up. They help give the record its own vibe, too, with some little surprises.

AW: “Mr. Soul Satisfaction” is great. Did you want to make people hear both songs in a new way?

BB: Certainly, we hope that the listeners hear the two songs in a new way. Mashups are fun, and we loved working with Peter Noone on this one.

AW: “Brian Jones” is an interesting take on who he was and what he represented to the Stones and to music. Is that your take on it too?

BB: Yes, the song is definitely about who Brian Jones was and his importance as a founding member of the Rolling Stones. Coincidently, there are a number of other Brian Jones projects out there now (e.g., documentaries). We didn’t know that when writing this song, but it’s nice to see that we are not the only ones to want to honor Brian’s legacy.

AW: “All the Cash in the World” is about not looking back. Is it also about something deeper than that?

BB: It’s not just about “not looking back.” It’s also about taking ownership of the events of one’s life and not having regrets if you do look back. Sort of like “My Way”!

 The Weeklings

Raspberry Park

Jem Records

The album title is a pun on Asbury Park, NJ, and as someone who lived in Asbury for a while, I can say it is apt. And that’s what this album is about, a blend of today’s indie rock and classic rock that spans from combining Buffalo Springfield’s “Mr. Soul” and the Stones’ “Satisfaction,” to playing Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” as rockabilly.

The Weeklings’ originals are where the indie rock is blended in, from the one-minute songs like “Samson” and “Etude In E,” which are almost folk, to great rock songs like “All the Cash In The World,” which is about looking back at good and bad times and you wouldn’t change how you handled them. Some of the covers. like the Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home” and “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” have indie styling, as well.

That this new album is great means the new year is starting off right. The Jersey Shore still has a lot of life to it, and this album is one reason why. Whether you live there or not, this album will take you there.

Andrea Weiss

 The Incurables are from Detroit, and it shows in their music, as it is really punky power pop (think Ramones, MC5, Stooges). It’s a lot of fun to listen to – serious fun for the smart set.

The band was kind enough to collaborate on answers to a few email questions I had.

Andrea Weiss: For those who don’t know you, how did the band form?

The Incurables: We have all know each other almost our entire lives, all growing up with similar musical taste and backgrounds. Ray and I (Pat) started playing together when we were 15, working with old Beatles, Kinks, and Who songs along with the Ramones, Clash, and Stooges that were just being discovered and rarely played on the radio. Within a couple of years we started writing our own songs and were getting the itch to record and play out live. Dennis joined about this time as a drummer, and was moved over to rhythm guitar when Darrin came in.

AW: Who plays what in the band?

TI Ray Lawson is our bass guitarist and does the majority of the writing and lead vocals. Pat Kelly is the lead guitarist, along with additional writing and vocals. Darrin Lawson is the drummer, along with additional writing and vocals. Dennis Pepperack is the rhythm guitarist and does harmonies.

AW: Who are your influences?

TI: Like many musicians in the last 50 years, it is hard not to credit The Beatles for wanting you to pick up a guitar and start a band. We really have a wide variety of music that has influenced us all. Darrin might say a lot of the intricate bands of the 70s like Yes, and Rush. Dennis gets into some more obscure bands from the 80s and loves ska. We all love the mix between harmonic melodies and aggressive power chords. Cheap Trick comes to mind.

AW: I hear the Ramones, the Stooges, and the MC5. Were they influences, and is that the sound you're after?

TI: We have never tried to emulate any particular sound, but would be ecstatic to be lumped in with that group. Being from Detroit, it would be a shame not to include the MC5 and Stooges as influences. The raw energy they managed to capture is absolutely something we look to for inspiration.

AW: “When I Grow Up,” which is a great single, seems to be about never wanting to get old, even as you want to be an adult. Am I right?

TI: I am not sure if it is not wanting to grow up or just unable. It is from the perspective of someone that appears to be delusional about their future, expecting the white picket fenced ideal, but headed down a different path.

AW: “Soda Pop” is about regional names for soft drinks, and another great single, but is it really about diversity?

TI: I wish I could say its about something with a deeper meaning, but sometimes we are just goof balls. A lot of our songs do have hidden meanings and some we even challenge the listener to find them. If you can take away a message about diversity, then we will take that as a bonus. Darrin gets the credit for the idea. He was traveling a lot and found that he couldn’t just ask for a pop and have people know what he wanted. So I guess it is about diversity.

AW: What is the Detroit scene like now, and how do you fit into it?

TI: It is amazing, with a lot of hidden gems all over. By that I mean amazing clubs and bands that need more recognition. We have been traveling to other cities a lot lately and they are great, but it is always good to come home.

AW: Any bands you want to give a shout out?

TI: Mostly just those in our Big Stir family. The Popular Creeps are from Detroit and we have done several shows with them. Dolph Chaney we met at a show in Chicago. He is amazing. The Forty Nineteens are one of our favorites and we would love to do a show with them. Mike from Sparkle Jets U.K. helped with our album art. And looking forward to the new album from The Armoires.