Year In Review: In The Loop Magazine Staff 2023 Highlights

Dec 22, 2023 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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Each year we remanice on what amazing things we saw or heard. This year is the same. Here are our highlights, best of and general likes from 2023.

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James Currie:

My best of 2023. No particular order.

Concerts:

1. Taylor Swift The Era’s Tour at Soldier Field
2. The Cure “Shows of a Lost World Tour” at United Center
3. Beck “Summer Odyssey Tour” at Northerly Island
4. Lucinda Williams at Fitzgerald’s
5. Mana “México Lindo Y Queridoat” at United Center
6. Gyasi at Beat Kitchen
7. Placebo “North American Tour” at Salt Shed
8. Skinny Puppy “Farewell Tour” at House of Blues Chicago
9. Viagra Boys at Riot Fest
10. KISS “End of the Road Tour” at United Center

Albums:

1. Metallica, ’72 Seasons’
2. Lucinda Williams, ‘Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart’
3. Wilco, ‘Cousin’
4. Kesha, ‘Gag Order’
5. Parannoul, ‘After the Magic’
6. Slowdive, ‘everything is alive’
7. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, ‘PetroDragonic Apocalypse’
8. Avatar, ‘Dance Devil Dance’
9. Sleep Token, ‘Take Me Back To Eden’
10. Fever Ray, ‘Radical Romantics’

Festival:

1. Riot Fest Chicago

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Bobby Talamine:

And so another year concludes, with “Best of” this, “Best of” that. And like most lists I’ve compiled from years past, it always becomes a head scratcher. I start compiling and whittling down things usually right after Thanksgiving, with a list that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 albums, all genres. As of this writing and finalizing, I’m still on the fence on what to whittle down- the list now officially down to 24, with eight solid entrees. No matter- I’ll have my mind made up (sort of) by the time I figure out the two missing links to the Top 10. Even that sounds awkward, with looking at the 16 that are not currently added.

So before even getting to the Top 10, here’s what’s not on the list as of yet (honorable mentions):

• Lil Yachty- “Let’s Start Here”
• Summer Haze ’99- “Inevitable”
• Kvelertak- “Ending”
• Tomb Mold- “The Enduring Spirit”
• 100 GECS- “10,000 GECS”
• JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown- “Scaring the Hoes”
• Depeche Mode- “Memento Mori”
• Kylie Minogue- “Tension”
• Arooj Aftab / Vijay Iyer / Shahzad Ismaily- “Love in Exile”
• The Bellwether Syndicate- “Vestige & Vigil”

What to add is incredibly tough, since the remaining spots, almost equal to what’s included, all played multiple times since their release dates. As for the list- there’s no real standout to Number One. “Number One” is just that- a number. If you made the list, you were equal to the task as for the others on the list. Same goes to the artists and bands mentioned above, who didn’t make the final cut, which, sounds awful, although, anything but. So here’s the list:

1. Blonde Redhead- “Sit Down for Dinner” – Oh how they’ve evolved. Just so magnificently elegant, the songwriting, the compositions, the beauty of it. An album just so gentle, so warm, so welcoming.
2. Slowdive- “Everything is Alive”- Cool how their sound is elevated and forthcoming with the lovelies, even with a break in songwriting, let alone the tragedies. “Emotional gestures pulled to your heartstrings?” Like over and over? But of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less. They certainly deliver.
3. Ryuichi Sakamoto- “12”- This is painful. Brought to tears multiple times with these compositions. More so that this is Ryuichi’s last known work for release, since his unfortunate passing last April. Just so mournful, the instrumentals, the gentleness of it all. A painful, but worthy listen, time and time again.
4. ANOHNI and the Johnsons- “My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross”- That voice, from ANOHNI. Oh my god, you stand up and pay attention. Breathtaking, the passion, the opera feel of it all. Outspoken as all get out, followed by traumatic pain. Riveting.
5. Fever Ray- “Radical Romantics”- Don’t you dare cross Karin Dreijer- she will fuck you up, albeit with a display of affection, but with a scalpel in her front chest pocket, if push comes to shove. And she remembers the intricate details of bullying, and personal trauma, laying it all out with synthetic and pulse pumping beats to drive the messages home, free and clear of the past to the present day, making art out of what could be artless. Menacing beasts abound, rightly so, however and whichever through a display of emphatic devotion.
6. Young Fathers- “Heavy Heavy”- Massive and complete choruses, followed by strong hooks, embraced with lust and longing. Such confidence, all things Young Fathers, and their display of the chill and the cool. Passionate and soulful, and captivating.
7. Yves Tumor- “Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) – Some shoegaze guitar and walloping drums, followed by hymnal songwriting more captivating than ever. An album that unfolds and unfolds, and continues to unfold.
8. SZA- “SOS”- “SOS” was released in late December of last year, and ironically didn’t make many year end lists, including mine. I’m writing the wrong, and including it in my list for 2023. It deserves so. So freewheeling and soulful, and elegant as all get out.
9. Enslaved- “Heimdal”- Still to the present day- Norwegian trailblazers. Defining a sound that keeps expanding, all the while staying true to their roots. Not as easy as it sounds folks- Trust me on this.
10. Sleep Token- “Take Me Back to Eden”- I don’t know what to make of them. Everything is just so cryptic, and through the feverish haze, anonymous. Not necessarily like the band Ghost, with brash pop and circumstance. Much more introverted than that. However, through the interviews I’ve read with lead singer and all around creator and frontman Vessel- even he doesn’t know what to make of the thing, let alone it’s longevity, all so head scratching. Which makes you dig them even more, not knowing the what the fucks on everything. If anything, it makes you push and pull to the present, and cherish what’s been released, let alone seeing them play live, because you never know the ending, or if it’s deliberate.

As for live performances- not in any particular order:

1. Clan of Xymox with The Bellwether Syndicate
2. Blonde Redhead
3. TOOL
4. Slowdive with Drab Majesty
5. Then Comes Silence with Vivid Video and Urban Heat
6. Viagra Boys
7. Fever Ray
8. Weyes Blood
9. The Smile
10. Ministry with Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly
11. Sparks
12. Ghost with Amon Amarth
13. Jehnny Beth
14. Sleep Token
15. Depeche Mode (twice)
16. (and all things) the Cure (twice as well)

Here’s to 2024- May it be also rich in musical experiences.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – In The Loop Magazine Chicago

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Harrison Kristoff:

For me, 2023 was a mix bag for sure. I honestly didn’t have enough to compile a “Best of” or “Top 10” list. But here are a few things that stood out to me.

Favorite Concert: Queen and Adam Lambert @ United Center

Favorite Album: 100 gec, “10,000 gecs”

Favorite Festival: Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago

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Kelly Clausen:

2023 was a varied year for music. I found new music I wasn’t expecting to like from genres I normally don’t appreciate. I saw new bands opening for headliners that I actually liked just as much as the main attraction. I felt like music came through to me in new ways rather than the conventional passages and it fueled my soul with something new and truly spired my process in a meaningful way.

My favorite albums of the year are ones that stood out as something unique and different. Thought provoking but trident as well as left my toes tapping or head bobbing.

Albums:

1 Caroline Polachek: Desire, I Want to Turn Into You

2 Sufjan Stevens: Javelin

3 Lana Del Rey: Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

4 Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS

5 boygenius: the record

Concerts / Live Performances:

1 The Cure at United Center / Riot Fest

2 Squirrel Nut Zippers at City Winery Chicago

3 Depeche Mode at United Center

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