Sound Obsession

Another year done and gone, and what a great year for music.  These are my top ten favorite albums of 2023, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Baroness:   Stone     (Abraxan Hymns - 9/15/23) Not so long prior to 2015’s   Purple , Baroness’ excellent fourth album in a color-coded series that concluded this year, their tour bus flipped in Bath, England, resulting in both shattered bones and band lineup.     Founder and frontman John Baizley remains as the sole original member of this Savannah, GA, sludge and progressive metal group.     2017’s   Gold & Grey   introduced fans to axe-shredder extraordinaire Gina Gleason, cementing a new and now consistent dynamic that pays dividends on Baroness’ latest LP,   Stone .     As its title implies, this one is rock solid with drums and bass locked in propulsive motorik tempo, Gleason’s soari...

In alphabetical order by artist name.  Top Ten for 2019 coming soon! Anderson .Paak:  Ventura   (Aftermath - 4/12/19) Baroness:   Gold & Grey   (Abraxan Hymns - 6/14/19) Tyler Childers:  Country Squire   (Hickman Holler Records - 8/2/19) Com Truise:  Persuasion System   (Ghostly International - 5/17/19) Desert Sessions:  Vols. 11 & 12   (Matador - 10/25/19) Ben Jarrell:  Troubled Times   (Country Roots Records - 3/29/19) Little Simz:  GREY Area   (Age 101 - 3/1/19) Jon Pardi:  Heartache Medication   (Capitol Records Nashville - 9/27/19) The Steel Woods:   Old News   (Woods Music - 1/18/19) White Denim:  Side Effects   (City Slang - 3/29/19)

Charles Wesley Godwin, Union Stage, Washington DC - 6/27/19 Mini Mansions, DC9, Washington DC - 5/30/19 GZA, Howard Theatre, Washington DC - 5/3/19 Whitey Morgan, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO - 4/20/19 Whitey Morgan, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO - 4/20/19 Whitey Morgan, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO - 4/20/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Zeal & Ardor, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Jamey Johnson, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/4/19 Jamey Johnson, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/4/19 Failure, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 3/28/19 Failure, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 3/28/19 Mike & The Moonpies, Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington DC - 3/27/1...

Darkest Hour, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 7/14/17 Havok, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 7/14/17 Skepta, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 6/5/17 Iron Maiden, Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA - 6/3/17 Iron Maiden, Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA - 6/3/17 Pallbearer, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 6/1/17 Mastodon, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 5/2/17 Mastodon, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 5/2/17 Baroness, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 4/12/17 Baroness, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 4/12/17 Baroness, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 4/12/17 Toxic Holocaust, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 3/19/17 Toxic Holocaust, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 3/19/17 Toxic Holocaust, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 3/19/17 Sunn O))), 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 3/12/17