Holy shit! Two months in a row with a music list?! That’s wild stuff. This is Editor’s Note: Best New Music October 2023!
Lots of cool shit came out in October. Sometimes I wonder if bands/labels should release more stuff in the summertime because the fall months are always jam-packed with new music. Give me some tunes during the heat for fuck’s sake!
Even though it’s cooling down October was such a dope month! Love Halloween and the lead-up to it.
Anyway, if you’re new here’s how the column works. I’m gonna list out the band name, and album name, and then a quick one-to-two-liner description to give you an idea of whether or not you want to hit play on the associated link. Easy enough? Cool. Let’s go!
Best Albums of October 2023
Modern Technology – Conditions of Worth
This was my favorite release from October so I’m listing it first! Two-person bass and drums attack! Stonery kinda, doomy kinda, noisy for sure, just a hint of post-metal. Very nice!
Unschooling – New World Artifacts
Taut post-punk triple guitar attack out of France.
NECKBOLT – Dream Dump
Just weird noisy rock. Love that most of the songs kinda have this dance vibe and beat.
Technically this came out in September, but I’m late, plus September’s list was freakin’ loaded.
Harm’s Way – Common Suffering
Heavy as fuck hardcore-tinged metal. This album never lets up. Relentless!
Another September release. Telling you, way too much good stuff that month.
’68 – Yes, and…
QOTSA vibes, but bigger, harder, and way more disjointed. Love how unhinged the vocals are.
September release – noticing a trend…
Earl Sweatshirt & The Alcehmist – Voir Dire
Don’t really feel like I need to describe this. If you follow hip-hop at all you know.
Technically dropped last month as well, but it hit streaming in October. So yea.
Geese – 4D Country
I assume these are b-sides from their summer album, 3D Country. If you are unfortunate enough to be someone I talk to about music you probably know how hard I ride for this Strokes-indie-70’s-dad-rock band. Glad I’m getting more of this. I made a big ol’ playlist combining the LP and EP where I cut some tracks and moved some tracks around. Just trying to be as obnoxious about liking this band as humanly possible. Thanks for humoring me.
Egyptian Blue – A Living Commodity
This shit is just fierce. Driving. Non-stop.
Ghostface Killah – The Lost Tapes
Love me some Ghostface always and forever. I thought it was b-side album judging by the title, but I guess this is all new stuff. Anyway, it’s solid.
HotWax – Invite me, kindly
The second EP from HotWax this year. 90’s infused rock grunge stuff. This band is getting better and better. Looking forward to more.
Maria Uzor – Soft Cuts
First of all, look at this cover art! Love it. So many genres mixed in here… It’s all futuristic, groove, dancebased amazingness. Just kinda puts you in a trance throughout the whole album.
Slap Rash – Catherine Special
Sister/Brother duo consisting of drums, vox, electronics, and some very busy kick-ass bass. Punk, post-punk vibes. Slap Rash fills up so much space with so little. Love Amelia’s vocals.
Job Creators – Love Monster
Sticking with the bass drums duo action here (who needs lame-ass guitar players anyway). Instrumental, driving, spacey electronics, mathy bass, and drum work.
Maruja – “One Hand Behind the Devil” (single) – Knocknarea EP
I’m new to Maruja’s aggressive saxophone-infused post-punk rock stuff. They dropped a single in October so I’m highlighting the EP that came out in March of this year. Don’t care. EP link here.
Turbo Nut – “Stupid” (single) – Trubo Nut Forever LP
Same as the post above. New single from a band I recently discovered and then I went on to find this year’s previous release. Off-kilter, psych, fuzzy, driving, noodle action. It’s heavy in an unconventional way. Emma and Fiona’s vocals give the music that much of an extra kick. I think they sometimes wear hockey jerseys when they play live, so that’s cool too.
EXEK – The Map and Territory
Indie, ethereal, slackery stuff out of Melbourne. Such well-constructed songs. Perfect for chillin or spacin out.
Onyon – Last Days On Earth
No-wave-krautrock goodness out of Germany. This drives more than most no-wave stuff. Very cool!
Ragana – Desolution’s Flower
Sparse doom black metal out on The Flenser, so you know it’s good. Maria and Nicole alternate between drums, guitar, and vocals. They rule.
The Totemist & Rabea Massaad – Less We Know
Driving proggy instrumental super dynamic rock stuff that bounces and moves and drives and kicks ass and never seems to let up much like this long-ass sentence.
Mint Field – Aprender a Ser
Dream pop shoegazey trip hop out of Mexico City. Estrella del Sol’s vocals are what perfection is, fits the musical feel perfectly.
Appalooza – The Shining Son
It’s like a French Baroness-themed rollercoaster death ride. It’s coming off the tracks and it has no intent on stopping and I love it.
Okay, that’s enough for now. Thanks for sticking around and checking out all 21 bands. If you didn’t check out all 21 of the bands scroll back up and fuck off some more not doing anything other than listening to good ass shit. Okay. Thanks! Bye!