Best Trash of 2023.

Not gonna lie Chief this year went by TOO fast. It feels like yesterday I was listening to No Mana - Yesterday (Yep. We’re just getting started).

And while the year was full of big names like Skrillex, Kill The Noise, RL Grime, and more coming out with massive albums…

Few actually stood out.

Reasons for that is a topic for another day, but rest assured, you won’t see a lot of big names since I tend to gravitate towards more… Cave Dweller Type Music. 

This was supposed to be a top 10, but you’ve already read enough of those, so this is just a “best of.” There are no numbers or rankings. It’ll be something more fun.

Let’s begin.

NITEPUNK - HUMAN

The Hardest bass music album of the year. 

Nitepunk’s signature sound design and the masterfully crafted songs make it a welcome and needed addition to the bass music scene.

It’s dark, yet every song hits a different tone and stands out. The first song -  Grounded -  majestically lays the ground (lol) for the experience to come. 

Hard-hitting bass, Dancefloor Ragers, and bounce-off-the-wall energy songs adorn the album that describes the HUMAN experience in audible form. Or at least that’s what it seems he was going for.

There is so much detail in each song that I had to do a double-take to find the hidden sounds, bass lines, and melodies. 

Songs like Point, Black and Colors, Miracle, and Sober are the ones that made it stand out against every other Riddim album that came out this year.

Nitepunk’s sound is so unique that you can instantly pick it apart from anything in the Riddim scene (Though that is cheating because every song sounds the same, lol).

This album gets “Hardest Human-Made Trash Of The Year” Award.

Juelz - Floorspace

The power to take you on the floor.

I will admit this one randomly popped up on my radar. But Juelz’s signature (yes, I like that word) sound design and rhythm blew my expectations.

Songs like Divination and Gossip stood out the most. At the same time, other songs failed to hit the mark. Then again, there’s no perfect floor without a dirt stain or two.

The entire thing is a melody-to-bass masterclass spanning the whole album. Back-to-back bangers keep it at a quick pace and give no room to breathe (in a good way). He is a master at keeping tempos and well.. Getting you on the floor (not that way, sheesh).

Clean sounds, detailed backgrounds, and yet another album optimized for the floor. This album is Juelz using his power to… take you…. to the floor.

Gets “Most Powerful Trash Of The Year” Award

F.O.O.L - Machine

This is 100% biased because I love the master of melodies, aka F.O.O.L. (Apparently stands for Fuck Our Ordinary Lives). 

And even though he’s one of my gateways into electronic music, I will say some songs lacked the F.O.OL.ishness (see a pattern?) while some tapped into OG F.O.O.L and what made it an instant wonder.

Songs like Tension and Encounter go back to his R.O.O.T.S., while Agonize and Valhalla symbolize the majestic evolution of his sound. 

The album makes you feel part of a future dystopic city. Running around, exploring, and shooting, meeting the various areas of this hopefully distant landscape.

This is one of the oldest electro artists in the game, and seeing him release another full-scale album brings a sense of wonder. Melodies of the Ordinary is still one of the best albums I’ve ever heard.

F.O.O.L is a master at building worlds through music, and this is no exception; the melodies and what made him great in the first place are still there, and this is high proof of it.

This album gets “Most Melodic Trash of the Year” Award.

Vorso - Holonomy 

Admittedly, the longest in the list at 1:30 hours on the play track. Vorso knows how to play with sound and melody, which makes it a fantastic listening experience. 

There’s a lot of Drum and Bass, which he has mastered over the years. But each song stands on its own as a mini-adventure. The whole album sounds like Adventures at the Sea, with each song acting as a chapter.

Power Through quickly became a favorite upon first listening. Something about the playful tone spoke to me. The rest is a glorious world of distinct sounds and melodies. Big Drum and Palindromes are other fun songs. 

Vorso excels at catchy and detailed songs with a lot of sound design. Voyager is another excellent example of it

This gets “Most Adventurous Trash of the Year” Award.

ALRT - Multiplicity

Speed is the GAME, ALRT is the name, [Editors Note: This sucks, but hey - it’s MY landfill.]  

This one is amazing for staying awake on those late-night drives. His mix of melodies with fast and heavy-hitting tracks fills the car-shaped void Joyryde left after BRAVE.

There isn’t much to say. It’s a fun album. Air Drums and Tonight I’m Moving are great. Very enjoyable altogether.

If you enjoy this, then ORIGIN is another fantastic follow-up (or prequel?) after this.

This gets “SPEED OF THE YEAR” Award.

Livsey - Liberation 

This one is a bit niche, and that’s because this is not for everyone. But the eclectic mix between melody and in-your-face basslines is hard to beat.

Bassline, Drum n Bass, Catchy Rhythms, and SPEED songs liberate you from the chair and into the floor - without the power part. This is another album that’s bad for working. It can work at the gym, though. If you want to bust a move halfway through a squat.

Elation and Persia frame the album as I haven’t heard many songs like that. On the other end, Again and Again takes a more melodic tone and is a great “midpoint chill” for the album.

Livsey is a master at buildups and melodies while delivering fantastic experiences at the drop. Again, it’s not for everyone and can get repetitive, but that keeps the voices off the walls and feeds the dopamine.

This gets “Most Liberating Trash of the Year” Award.

Rome in Silver - ᖭི༏ᖫྀ (Dragonfly)

Rome In Silver has had an interesting evolution. And it’s been an incredible journey throughout the years. 

Quick side note: The scene seems to be shifting towards a more “lyrical” style of music. It’s not bad but lyrics are not my milkshake flavor.

The album itself sounds like a journey from Rome in Silver, reviewing new and past influences vibes.

House tracks like Inferno and Cicero experiment with a new side, while songs like Return of Love and Touch stay true to his original sound.

It’s a smooth listen and a great addition to the Rome In Silver Discography. Cover art is also hypnotic. Road trip vibes are also unmatched.

This gets “Most ᖭི༏ᖫྀ Of the Year” Award.

DROELOE - The Art of Change.

This one changed the article at the last second. Upon first listening, not much came of it. It’s in the analysis of repeat listens that internalized the narrative and SiGnAtUrE sound design. 

It’s very laid-back listening. One that is best heard in one go without stops. Foolish Fish and Escape Velocity are some of my favorite releases this year. 

It’s an energetic journey with a hint of nostalgia, kind of how life is supposed to be, with some low-down songs. And as the title says, the album changes tone as it goes through. It may even be eligible for a Dumpster Dive….

I recommend listening for the narrative, there may be a song for everyone.

This gets “Most Artful Change of the Year” Award.

Icarus - Change

Come to think of it, there ARE a couple of album themes around change this year…. 

ANYWAY.

This mellow house album shows a different side of house and how you don’t need loud noises a la SVDDEN DEATH to feel something (This seems to be a problem?).

It’s another unexpected album to catch me off guard, but WOW. Icarus is one of the best house artists in the scene and this album solidifies it.

Songs like Resonate, Forever, and Change are fantastic listens. It gives an ethereal feel and is perfect for car rides, dissociation walking, and background music.

This gets “Most Constantly Changing Trash of the Year” Award.

A must-listen to any House Enjoyer,

That wraps up the main awards.

And now, The Final Award.

As you may have noticed, several awards have been given out. Maybe next year this will become the “Trashies” (sorry.) Awards. - But for now, allow me to reveal the 

BEST TRASH OF THE YEAR AWARD

Which goes to no other than...

Almost…

Hey you know, it’s a big deal….

Okay, maybe it’s a bit ridiculous…

You’ll never guess, and that’s because the award goes to: