The First Annual Waxy Awards! đ
The Wax Museum Award Show! 20 awards to give out from a wild year in music.
Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the first annual Waxies! If youâre new here, this is a weekly music curation newsletter, and today weâre handing out some awards.
So throw on a suit jacket over that band tee, grab a glass of Santana champ, and letâs celebrate the artists and albums that defined our wild year in music!
At the end of this newsletter, youâll find the 55 song Waxies playlist featuring all the winners and nominees so you can listen along!
Most Replayed Album from Last Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Alvvays: Blue Rev!
Get Vinyl: Blue | Discogs (colored variants)
Before we get to 2023, letâs give some love to some of last years music that had the most staying power.
No album lodged itself in my brain more than Alvvaysâ third record. The Canadians had an enormous 2023, taking Blue Rev on a world tour (saw them twice!), received a shout out from Keanu Reeves, went deep with Nardwaur, and finally graced the NPR Tiny Desk last week with four choice cuts off Blue Rev.
Honorable Mentions: NilĂźfer Yanya: PAINLESS | Spoon: Lucifer on the Sofa
Most Overlooked Album from Last Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Momma: Household Name!
Get Vinyl: Red | Discogs (colored variants)
Surprisingly absent from most 2022 "Best Ofâ lists was Momma's Household Name. The delightful â90s alt-rock throwback brims with fun, excitement, and an abundance of catchy riffs. Fortunately, Momma's fanbase has been steadily growing, thanks to their recent gigs opening for Weezer, Modest Mouse, and Pavement.
Honorable Mentions: Dazy: OUTOFBODY | Oso Oso: Sore Thumb
Debut Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Militarie Gun: Life Under the Gun!
Get Vinyl: Cobalt Blue | Pink Marble | Black | Discogs (colored variants)
OK enough of last year, letâs give out some 2023 awards!
Militarie Gun's debut album Life Under The Gun electrifies with its rapid-fire blend of intense rhythms and raw energy. In just 27 minutes, the album unleashes 12 tracks packed with irresistible hooks, high-octane beats, and frontman Ian Sheltonâs now trademark âooh-oohâ ad-libs that whirl listeners into a frenzy of head-spinning, foot-stomping exhilaration.
Honorable Mentions: superviolet: Infinite Spring | Blush: Supercrush
Sophomore Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Geese: 3D Country!
Get Vinyl: Crystal Clear | Black | Discogs
Crafting a standout second album often poses a greater challenge than the debut, presenting artists with a choice: refine their initial sound or venture into entirely new territory. Geese boldly opts for the latter. This Brooklyn five-piece skillfully shifted gears from the post-punk vibes of first album Projector to a thrilling, progressive rock 'n' roll epic. Trust me when I say give this record a full listen (or two) to discovery all the fascinating decisions that went on here.
Honorable Mentions: The Murder Capital: Gigiâs Recovery | Sampha: Lahai
All Killer No Filler Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠RVG: Brain Worms!
Get Vinyl: Blue | Discogs
Australia's RVG delivers a masterclass in efficiency and artistry with their latest offering: a flawless set of 10 tracks clocking in at just 34 minutes. If you asked ten different listeners to pick a favorite track, you'd likely get ten unique responses.
The excellence doesn't stop with the original tracks either. Last month, RVG collaborated with the UK's buzzy Sleaford Mods, adding a fresh twist to "Nothing Really Changes."
Honorable Mentions: Jeff Rosenstock: HELLMODE | Tennis: Pollen
Double Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Unknown Mortal Orchestra: V!
Get Vinyl: Golden Nugget | Rare Blue | Discogs (colored variants)
Sometimes, instead of a quick musical fix, you crave an immersive experience, a world to lose yourself in. That's exactly what Unknown Mortal Orchestra's V offers - an expansive soundscape filled with funky instrumentals and irresistibly catchy tunes. And here's a tip: these tracks are mixed to sit deep in the background, so turning up the volume really brings out their full, rich sound.
Honorable Mentions: DJ Sabrina the Teeange DJ: Destiny | Lana Del Rey: Did You Know Thereâs a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?
Concept Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠home is where: The Whaler!
Get Vinyl: Pink | Blue | Discogs (colored variants)
The Whaler by Palm Coast, Floridaâs home is where is a soundtrack for our end times. âThe end of the world isnât some grand event; itâs just another day,â says frontwoman Brandon MacDonald.
The Whaler is a concept album about getting used to things worsening. To quote one song title, âeveryday feels like 9/11.â Weâre stuck in a Groundhog Day-type time loop where the towers fall everyday. An optimistic album this is not, rather an angry scream at the facade of normalcy everyone seems to be putting on during these abnormal times.
Honorable Mentions: Fireworks: Higher Lonely Power | Salami Rose Joe Louis: Akousmatikous
Solo Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Romy: Mid Air!
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Romy's first solo venture, stepping out from The xx, met the high expectations, thanks in part to the skilled production of Fred Again⌠The nostalgic, synth-driven trance sound blends emotion with rhythm, creating an experience thatâll have you in the club dancing through your tears.
Honorable Mentions: Alan Palomo: World of Hassle | Grain Chatton: Chaos for the Fly
Live Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Black Country, New Road: Live at Bush Hall
Get Vinyl: Black
Despite the departure of their frontman Isaac Wood and his distinctive voice, Black Country, New Road didn't just keep pace - they excelled, delivering arguably the year's most unforgettable filmed concert. With a remarkable track record of three hits in as many years, the big question now is, can they make it four in a row?
Honorable Mentions: MJ Lenderman: And The Wind (Live and Loose!) | Car Seat Headrest: Faces From The Masquerade
Hip Hop Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Larry June & The Alchemist: The Great Escape!
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
The Alchemist and his flipped samples have been a cheat code for rappers recently, fueling a string of hit records from a lineup of all-stars like Freddie Gibbs, Armand Hammer, Roc Marciano, and Boldy James.
Now joining forces with San Francisco's Larry June, The Great Escape emerges as a sleek West Coast funk odyssey, boasting an impressive roster of features. Action Bronson, Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Khalifa, Joey Bada$$, Slum Village, and Big Sean all bring their A-game, elevating the album to new heights with their distinctive flair.
Honorable Mentions: billy woods & Kenny Segal: Maps | JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown: SCARING THE HOES
Posthumous Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠jaimie branchâs Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))!
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
In August 2022, the music world was rocked by the sudden loss of the brilliant trumpet player jaimie branch at just 39, as she was finalizing her third album. In the wake of this tragedy, her family, band, and fellow artists came together to share her final masterpiece with the world.
Listening to her work, one can't help but feel a profound sadness for the incredible talent we lost, and yet, an overwhelming gratitude for the vibrant, life-affirming music she gifted us.
Honorable Mentions: Sparklehorse: Bird Machine | Big Scarr: The Secret Weapon
Chameleon of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Corinne Bailey Rae - Black Rainbows
Get Vinyl: Clear Smokey Black | Black | Discogs (colored variants)
This award is given to the artist who changed their style the most dramatically in the best way. With her fourth album and first in seven years, Corrine Bailey Rae leaves behind the sunny radio hits of her past for a full-blown reinvention traversing multiple genres and audaciously defying expectations.
Honorable Mentions: Lil Yachty: Letâs Start Here | Algiers: Shook
Lost in Translation Award
The Waxy goes to⌠Parannoul: After the Magic
Get Vinyl: Insomnia Green | Magenta | Discogs (colored variants)
Parannoul's music has a remarkable way of evoking deep emotions, even without understanding his lyrics. The album's immense layers of guitars and rhythm creates an almost transcendent experience, making you feel as though you could effortlessly levitate from your seat and ascend towards the heavens.
Honorable Mentions: Sigur RĂłs: ĂTTA | Fatoumata Diawara: London Ko
Comeback Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Blonde Redhead: Sit Down for Dinner!
Get Vinyl: Strawberry Parfait Splatter | Yogurt White | Violet | Black
Blonde Redhead bursts back onto the scene with their first album in ten years, a gem that shines brightly in their 30-year musical journey. Opener âSnowman,â âI Thought You Should Know,â and part 2 of the title track showcase some of the most memorable melodies they've ever crafted, marking a triumphant new chapter in their oeuvre.
Honorable Mentions: Everything But The Girl: Fuse | Crime in Stereo: House & Trance
Score of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Nicholas Britell: Succession!
You know a theme song is banginâ when you never skip the intro and stay through for the end credits. But itâs the shape-shifting musical motifs throughout the episodes that really shined. Nicholas Britell's score functions as a character in its own right, and sustains a haunting presence throughout the series run. Iâll even go as far to say Succession has the greatest score in television history, or at the very least, no score has enhanced a show to this level before.
Honorable Mentions: Ludwig GĂśransson: Oppenheimer | Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: The Killer
Album Artwork of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Blurâs The Ballad of Darren!
Get Vinyl: Red | Black | Orange | Discogs (colored variants)
The Ballad Of Darren, Blur's first release in eight years and a great one at that, showcases a Martin Parr photograph on its cover, juxtaposing a swimmer in the bright blue Gourock Outdoor Pool under a dreary grey Scottish sky, complemented by Blur's iconic Britpop-era logo.
Honorable Mentions: Kelela: Raven | Caroline Polachek: Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Music Video of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Weyes Blood: "God Turn Me Into a Flower"!
Weyes Blood's mesmerizing 2022 track "God Turn Me Into a Flower" is now paired with a video that mirrors its grandeur, masterfully directed by renowned archival god Adam Curtis (look up his docs if you are unaware!).
Capturing the complexities of life - pain, hope, horror, and beauty - Curtis invites us to embrace the full spectrum of the human experience, as challenging as that can often be.
Honorable Mentions: Jungle: âBack on 74â | George Clanton: âIâve Been Youngâ
Compilation of the Year
The Waxy goes to⌠Waves of Distortion: The Best of Shoegaze!
Get Vinyl: Red | Blue | Black | Discogs
Shoegaze has been the buzzy word this year, and this compilation by label Two-Piers provides a nice history lesson, starting with bands in early 90âs UK that passed the baton to the present day dream-pop artists. For more on compilations, we recently highlighted the ten best of the year.
Best New Vinyl Club
The Waxy goes to⌠Vampire Weekend: Frog on the Bass Drum!
Get Vinyl: Vol 1 | Vol 2
On their Father of the Bride tour, Vampire Weekend transformed into a full-fledged jam band, expanding their riffs and evolving into a loose and dynamic force distinct from the album. Fans can now relive these moments with the Vampire Weekend Vinyl Club, an ongoing series of full-length LPs featuring live sets handpicked by the band. Volume 1, captured in Indianapolis, includes a ten-minute rendition of Bob Dylanâs "Jokerman," while Volume 2, recorded in Milan, is currently on its way to listeners.
If you missed it, I revisited Father of the Bride in this newsletter last month, highlighting the albumâs relevant and apparent condemnation of Zionism. Perhaps that through-line will continue with their next album, which is finished and due out in 2024.
The Golden Needle Award (Album of the Year)
The Waxy goes to⌠Wednesdayâs Rat Saw God!
Get Vinyl:
Last but not least, itâs time to give out the Golden Needle award for Album of the Year! If youâve been following along to the Album of the Year Leaderboard, you know this is not a surprise. While #2 through #100+ was in constant flux, #1 didnât change since Wednesday dropped Rat Saw God in April.
The Asheville quintet, whose fifth album explores the fucked up corners of Appalachia and frontwoman Karly Hartzmanâs teenage experiences, is an unholy mix of alt-rock, country, shoegaze, and folk that works due to the signature sound of Xandy Chelmisâ lap/pedal steel and Jake (MJ) Lendermanâs guitar shreds.
Iâve already gushed about my song of the year âChosen to Deserveâ with its guitar riff from the heavens, but thatâs just the beginning. Every track delivers a visceral punch with raw noise rock instrumentals, spicy vocals, and captivating songwriting. Ladies and Gentleman, we have found the next Great American Rock Band.
Honorable Mentions: Animal Collective: Isnât It Now? | Ratboys: The Window
The First Annual Waxy Awards Playlist
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Hey thanks for reading. If you liked the Waxies, youâll love Tunes & Turntables: The 100 Best Records of 2023, an e-book that will be out before the New Year. Itâll include all the stuff we do around here: album lists, music discovery, vinyl spotlight, and all sorts of random rabbit holes.
Paid subs will receive this as a membership perk. If you like vinyl and new music, you won't want to miss it!
Such a fun idea with Waxies! Excited to jump in and explore đ¤Š