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Hi Sorry State fam! What a year it’s been. I tried to avoid any cliche “boy where does the time go?” openers, but 2023 felt like it lasted 3 months tops. Maybe as I’m getting older, it feels like time is going by much faster because I’m much more cognizant of time, existentially speaking. On the bright side, I had a pretty good 2023 and time flies when you’re having fun. So much for avoiding cliche statements. But to prove 2023 was indeed 12 months long, I scrolled back through my photos to remember and reacquaint myself with the past year, and it looks like I had a lot of fun. I don’t want to jinx myself, but the past year was relatively low key and drama-free. I went to a ton of shows, did a little traveling, and made a concerted effort to take better care of myself. You know, all that preventative stuff that adults are supposed to do to be alive longer.
It was also a really fun year here at Sorry State, and speaking of Sorry State, it’s that time of year again where we look back at the last year and try to narrow down a list of our favorite releases. Originally, I had about 17, but I had to be brutal and narrow it down to ten. Well, no one was forcing me to do that, but Top 10 has a nicer ring to it than Top 17. I’m probably trying to squeeze another one into my honorable mentions as we speak. Ok, so here’s the plan. First, I’m gonna jump into my top picks for 2023. I will preface this by saying that a set of strict criteria had to be met in order to get into my top 10. It had to be 1) released in 2023 and 2) not be a reissue. Then I’ll expand on my 2023 favorites a little further and include some honorable mentions, some reissues I was excited about, and favorite shows of the past year. So without further ado…. and in no particular order!
My Top 10 2023 New Releases
Cherry Cheeks - CCLPII
No surprise here. I have loved everything Cherry Cheeks has put out. CC has been the solo project of Kyle Harms, but recently he got himself a band and they’ve started playing live! Their second LP had big shoes to fill because their debut album is one of my favorites. But I gotta say, they did not disappoint at all. Same big energy, great hooks, layers upon layers of weird noises and synth, and a balance of humor and seriousness. Pure Power steals the show for me as the top track on the album, and one of my favorite CC songs, period. Hard Stancing, Bunny Does Ice, DATA, and Ad Shark are some other favorites.
Display Homes - What if You’re Right and They’re Wrong?
A fantastic post-punk album that leans poppy in a wonderfully weird and dynamic way. It’s mid to fast tempo the whole way through and it keeps you on your toes. Simple yet effective beats that are perfectly locked in with every word. Perhaps that is easier to do when the singer is also the drummer, but nevertheless it sounds really clean and sharp. I love the raw, loud, and erratic vocals on this album. There are some great boppy, melodic bass riffs that really stand out and become (for me) one of my favorite and most memorable things about the album. Favorite tracks are CCTV, Background Check, and Proofread.
Screaming Death Compilation
One of the most exciting releases of the year, for sure. Sixteen brand new tracks by four killer hardcore bands: Destruct, Scarecrow, Dissekerad, and Rat Cage. It’s just pure, raw, blistering hardcore. Some of the highlights include some of the sickest, fastest, drums I’ve ever heard, courtesy of Destruct. Check out the fills in the song Omnicide. Holy shit. Scarecrow’s new tracks are insane. The main riff in the song Compensation is so good that I find myself singing it. And I live for the drum breakdown in Space Race, which is followed by an explosive array of meaty bass and clean razor sharp guitar riffs. I wrote a whole staff pick on this record, so I need to shut up now. But, you need this record.
Illiterates - No Experts
I was so embarrassingly late to the game on this record and it was literally put out by Sorry State. In my defense, it can be really hard to keep up! I love this record. It’s one I put on if I need a kick in the ass. Self-described as the “dumbest band in hardcore” but the album is everything you’d want from a hardcore record, so they did something right. The songs are short, fast, and catchy, with killer hooks, and animalistic-style vocals. They also played a killer show at SSR Fest! I love the songs L.B.T.C., Happy to be Here, and No Experts. Top to bottom, this one is a banger.
Divorcer - Espionage
This EP is just so damn likable and it grew on me more and more. It’s fun and catchy and all that good stuff, but it’s also witty and clever. It is very pop-heavy, but it feels substantial. The first track, Tiny Devil, sucked me right in. It’s absolutely infectious as the vocals waffle between sweet and taunting. The vocals are sharp and sometimes breathy, with lovely harmonies. They seem to draw inspiration from a popular alt-rock formula with its quiet verses and loud crashing choruses. It’s a really well-rounded, albeit rather short, EP. The stand out tracks are Tiny Devil and Bug.
Lafff Box S/T
I totally dug the Lafff Box EP they put out in 2022, so I was really looking forward to a full-length album from them. The band is comprised of members of Liiek, Ex-White, and Lassie. It’s mostly mid-tempo, and the sound is manic, fast, fresh, and modern. The singer’s snarling, distorted vocals and dual guitars create a pleasantly chaotic sound. A good balance of mosh-worthy punk and melodic gems. I would call it off the rails power pop, which is right up my alley. The song Master is a great example of that description. I really like the song Just a Fool. It’s a bit more structured and formulaic placed right in the middle of the much more chaotic tracks. A wise choice. It’s a high-energy album that is just a lot of fun to listen to.
Meat House S/T
A supergroup, if you will, Meat House is made up of some of the finest punk musicians in the area (and a little further out). After only a few practices, Meat House went straight to recording (with Shaved Ape) and gave us these seven songs. This is some good ole’ 80s style American hardcore right here. Fast, straightforward, no frills hardcore with mean vocals and lotsa great riffs. I’m glad to have caught a couple of their gigs. Let’s just say they know what they’re doing. Looking forward to more from MH. My favorite tracks are Punk Star and Slimy Enemy (killer intro!).
Knowso - Pulsating Gore
I know this record is pretty brand spankin’ new, but it was love at first listen. Knowso is in a class by themselves. The best I can come up with is demented post-punk, although it feels like it transcends post-punk. It’s quirky, catchy, and creative, with lyrics that are sarcastic, funny, clever, and even intellectual at times. It’s weird but not too weird, but it’s weird enough to make it difficult to draw comparisons. You will have to listen and see what you think. My favorite tracks are Do the Work, Heavy Hauling, and Drink From the Lake.
Personal Damage - Atrophy & Entropy
This is one killer band. I’ve liked everything they’ve put out, so a full-length album was highly anticipated! If you’re into early 80s Southern California punk like Circle Jerks or the Adolescents, this is the band (and album) for you. Fast, snotty, raw, American hardcore. This is a high energy album front to back with lots of great hooky melodies and singalong style vocals. It was super exciting to get to see them play at Sorry State fest and one of the bands I was most looking forward to seeing! Favorite tracks are Head First and End of the Last (the opener and the closer!)
Lothario - Drunk Fuck/Black Hair
I would be remiss not to mention a record with two of my favorite songs from 2023 because I played the shit out of them both. Two of the catchiest songs of 2023, maybe even the catchiest songs of 2023. Lothario is the brainchild of Annaliese Redlich, and let me tell ya, she has a knack for writing a melody. Immediately ear-catching. It’s electric, fun, dynamic, gritty garage punk with clean, infectious beats and powerful vocals. Both are mid-tempo and melodic with razor sharp riffs. I love the vocal flow on Black Hair, and the subtle bending of the notes on the guitar parts really add some great dimension. The overall sound is dynamic and checks all the boxes. I’m really excited to hear a full-length, which I hear is in the works!
Honorable Mentions for 2023
Sluggo - S/T
Rough Kids - The Black and White and Gray
Abi Ooze - Julia’s Apartment
Delco MF’s - 100% Complete and Total Motherfuckers
Sirkka - Viivyttely
Cel Ray - Cellular Raymond
Rat Cage - Savage Visions