TOP 10 MOST DISAPPOINTING ALBUMS OF 2023:

 

It says a lot that there were albums that I could have added but there just was no more space. Most of these albums should have been far better than they turned out to be and I hope these artistes return in the future even better:

1. U.S. Girls BLESS THIS MESS: 

after a long stretch of consistency, alas, a stumbling block. 

 

2. Shabazz Palaces ROBED IN RARENESS: 

half-baked at best if we are being honest. 

 

3. Kevin Abstract BLANKET: 

if you went looking for bops then prepare to be sorely disappointed. 

4. Genesis Owusu THE STRUGGLER: 

a bit all over one monochromatic idea and missing the restless mania.

 

5. Killer Mike MICHAEL: 

we waited over a decade so we should have got EPIC. 

 

6. Shamir HOMO ANXIETATEM: 

all hot rolls come to an end eventually. 

 

7. Kelela RAVEN: 

maybe a bit too casual. 

 

8. Billie Marten DROP CHERRIES: 

expected way more. 

9. El Michels Affair & Black Thought GLORIOUS GAME: 

not sure how this failed to gel but it just feels as if Black Thought just did not bring his A game. 

 

10. Spencer Krug I JUST DREW THIS KNIFE: 

I judge him to a ridiculously high standard, and this sounds like he really is no longer trying. 

 

 

TOP 10 MOST OVERRATED ALBUMS OF 2023:

 

As year-end lists flood in with the various albums critics deem important/the best, here are my picks for those that just seemed a bit too hyped:

 

1.Wednesday RAT SAW GOD (METACRITIC SCORE 8.9/10): 

utterly plain and unremarkable. 

 

2. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal MAPS (METACRITIC SCORE 9.0/10): 

not sure why stoner rap gets such adoration but here we are. 

 

3. Lankum FALSE LANKUM (METACRITIC SCORE 8.9/10): 

a decent batch of traditional folk songs but hardly a revolution. 

 

4. Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist VOIR DIRE (METACRITIC SCORE 8.3/10): 

Sweathirt got critics bamboozled and it continues to baffle me. 

 

5. Kara Jackson 

WHY DOES THE EARTH GIVE US PEOPLE TO LOVE? (METACRITIC SCORE 9.0/10): Jackson just sounds bored right through. 

 

6. Armand Hammer WE BUY DIABETIC TEST STRIPS (METACRITIC SCORE 8.7/10): 

just sounds lazy and no effort scattered around. 

 

7. Mitski THIS LAND IS INHOSPITABLE AND SO ARE WE (METACRITIC SCORE 9.0/10): 

slowly finding her way back but she’s nowhere at the top of her game here yet. 

 

8. Amaarae FOUNTAIN BABY (METACRITIC SCORE 9.5/10): 

has some fun and clever tracks but this would have earned it’s high marks and praises more if it were halved into an EP. 

 

9. Young Fathers HEAVY HEAVY (METACRITIC SCORE 8.6/10):

 sounds jittery and randomly all over the place. 

 

10. Boygenius THE RECORD (METACRITIC SCORE 9.0/10): 

decent but certainly not earth-shattering.