2023 Favorites (Albums, Songs, etc.)
SPECIAL ENTRY 07
Explore the intersection of sights and sounds with GLASSES, a deep dive into the expansive world of music graphic design.
That time again, everyone’s stats are in, what did you listen to on loop this year? For me, it was basically the same thing again lol. I never really surprise myself!
Here were my 2023 favorites—
ALBUMS
SZA - SOS
My top stats every year are always pretty basic, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone nobody’s heard of in my top 10 ever. What does that say about my music taste? I guess it says more about what I’m consistently returning to more than anything.
I loooove this whole album, I only have “F2F” deleted, it just sounds amateur and Disney to me, I don’t think pop punk fits SZA all too well. Besides that, man this album is so smooth to listen to. She tried a bunch of genres and sounds, and did all surprisingly well (except pop punk hehe). Songs like “Gone Girl” absolutely soar over you, especially when it explodes near the end. I love the rapping/singing mesh on the opener and title track, and the full on rapping with “Smoking on my Ex Pack”. “Low” slaps harder than it has any business slapping, and “Ghost in the Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers is an effortless and haunting collab that should’ve taken place years ago.
Favorite Tracks: Nobody Gets Me, Low, Far
DRAKE - FOR ALL THE DOGS
I’m sure you expected this one, as did I, but I can’t deny how much I’ve returned to this one. This one did take some growing on me though, I didn’t connect with it much at all in the beginning, but with repeated listens and different contexts/moods, I grew to love it.
With the additional “Scary Hours” Edition, and the rapping we got on those 6 tracks, I only love it more now. As with all of Drake’s stuff, its got infinite replay value for me.
Favorite Tracks: Members Only (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR), 8am in Charlotte, Bahama Promises
METALLICA - 72 SEASONS
Another one that stuck around for me is the new Metallica record, the first one since 2016’s Hardwired…to Self Destruct. It’s just more of the same greatness to me, what I really love the most about this album is the production/mixing. It’s super duper punchy and hits really hard, but remains dynamic and balanced. I love the sound of the drums and snares, James’ vocals are the best they’ve sounded in the later-era, and hopefully one day I can design something for them!
Favorite Tracks: 72 Seasons, Shadows Follow, Sleepwalk My Life Away
…also
JACK HARLOW - JACKMAN.
THE KID LAROI - THE FIRST TIME
THE BEATLES, OASIS, NAS, ETC…
SONGS
DRAKE - SEARCH & RESCUE
What felt like a fresh take on the signature nocturnal Drake sound mixed with newer production and insanely good vocal lines.
SZA - NOBODY GETS ME
A massive highlight from SOS, I love the crisp acoustic guitar and nostalgic nature of this track, super catchy melodies and overall killer performance from SZA.
JACK HARLOW - BLAME ON ME
WOOOOOW I love this fuckin song lol. Super washed out beat with this incredible eerie and emotional sample on top, Jack brings us three different perspectives on his upbringing, leveling up his game in the process.
…also
DRAKE - THE RESISTANCE
DRAKE & 21 SAVAGE - BROKE BOYS
J. COLE - IMMORTAL
SORRY FOR ALL THE DRAKE LOL
WHERE AM I GOING?
2023 saw a massive career pivot for me in that merch design became my main focus. Before this, I was sort of a jack of all trades in the space. I’ve still only ever done one “official” physical album packaging project with Amber Mark’s Three Dimensions Deep, and I thought packaging/album cover design was gonna be my main trajectory. That all changed this year.
I’v known for a little bit that my design style always inherently lent itself more to merch design than album cover design, as I used to mainly do only type-led compositions, and I honestly don’t usually prefer that style on covers. I like to leave it to the amazing photographers of the world, the 3D artists, the real technicians out there doing it really well. I will still absolutely take on any music design gig, but the ones coming in now are almost always merch-related, which I’m happy about. If you only knew the amount of artist merch I had!!!
Thanks for sticking around for another year, I’m glad I was able to pick up the slack a bit on GLASSES for the last chunk of the year.
Here’s to an amazing 2024!