The Top Reissues and EPs of 2023

The Top Ten Reissues and Reimaginings of 2023

1. Bob Dylan- Fragments: Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997); The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17

2. Jessye Norman- The Unreleased Masters

3. Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and Max Roach- Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings

4. Milford Graves- Children of the Forest

5. Fred Davis- Cleveland Blues

6. Bob Weir- Ace: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

7. Reba McEntire- Not That Fancy

8. RP Boo- Legacy, Volume 2

9. William Basinski- The Clocktower at the Beach

10. Cat Power- Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert

The Top Ten EPs of 2023

1. Julian Lage- The Layers

2. Theo Croker- By the Way

3. Noah Preminger and Kim Cass- The Dank

4. Truth Cult- Walk the Feel

5. Midwestern- Cartoon Network

6. Big Boss Vette- Resilience

7. $uicideboy$- Yinyang Tapes: Spring Season 1989-1990

8. Mozzy- Kollect Kall

9. Ilhan Ersahin, Dave Harrington and Kenny Wollesen- Your Head You Know

10. Marquis Hill- Rituals + Routines

August 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for a recent production of Il Signor Bruschino at Rossini at Wildbad by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of August

1. Karol G- Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)

Pop perfection.

2. Jaimie Branch- Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die (world war)

This ain’t no picnic.

3. Jonathan Blake- Passage

My review.

4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You

Spill the beans.

5. Grupo Frontera- El Comienzo

A celebratory debut.

6. Arnold Dreyblatt- Resolve

Classical grit.

7. Evan Parker- Etching the Ether

My review.

8. Miguel Zenón y Luis Perdomo- El Arte del Bolero, Vol. 2

Transcendent duo.

9. Bobby Rush- All My Love for You

He’s the one.

10. Ratboys- The Window

Heartland rock.

Top Ten Songs of August

1. L’Rain- “Pet Rock”

Heavy.

2. Turnstile and Badbadnotgood- “Underwater Boi”

Aqualung.

3. Noname with $ilkmoney, Billy Woods and Stout- “gospel?”

Fight song.

4. Kirk Franklin- “Try Love”

The gospel truth.

5. Armand Hammer with Elucid, Billy Woods and Pink Siifu- “Trauma Mic”

Crisis of faith.

6. Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Mike- “Sentry”

Drowsy.

7. Snoh Aalegra- “Wait a Little Longer”

Patience.

8. Doja Cat- "Paint the Town Red"

Walk on by.

9. Miguel and Lil Yachty- “Number 9”

Pet sounds.

10. EST Gee with Yo Gotti- “A Moment with Gotti”

Time stands still.

Top Ten Performances of August

1. Kassa Overall and Omari Jazz at Mississippi Studios

My Instagram clip.

2. Parker Quartet at Polsky Theatre

My review.

3. Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at the 1905

My review.

4. Truth Cult, Young Mvchetes and Burning Bush at Howdy

My review.

5. The Clientele and Papercuts at Mississippi Studios

My review.

6. Culture Club, Howard Jones and Berlin at Starlight Theatre

My review.

7. The Phil Collins Experience at Barkley Square

My review.

8. Jass at Second Presbyterian Church

My Instagram clip.

9. Claes Almroth Trio at Starday Tavern

My Instagram snapshot.

10. Rich Hill Trio and True Lions at Volker Park

My Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly survey is here.

Concert Review: Truth Cult, Young Mvchetes and Burning Bush at Howdy

Original image of Burning Bush at Howdy by There Stands the Glass.

A rainbow appeared to end at Howdy on Sunday, August 14. The grimy noise featured at the all-ages venue in Kansas City’s Leeds District was at odds with the heavenly apparition on the drizzly evening.

The debut performance of Burning Bush opened the show. The wrathful Old Testament-inspired punk band is fronted by my friend, colleague and podcast partner Aaron Rhodes. The brief burst of rage validated the $15 door charge.

Truth Cult was the primary attraction. Paris Roberts, the front person of the Baltimore quartet, unironically wore a Pearl Jam t-shirt. Even though only 50 people crowded into the small room, Truth Cult showed it’s arena-ready. 

I encountered plenty of detailed hardcore-centric analysis of Truth Cult’s sound on the sidewalk. Echoes of my comparatively antiquated reference points including F*cked Up enthralled me.

The industrial noise favored by Young Mvchetes is right up my alley. Yet the literal wall of amplifiers it employed Sunday emitted such extreme volume that I was forced to forfeit the pot of gold with an early exit.