Interactive Tracks Poll: Goodbye 2023, Hello 2023!

Wonderful to "see" you again, Lorenzo!  

suitkees wrote: My personal impressions after listening... Harp: This precise track came by on the radio, last Monday. Gentle, melodic and soothing, Beautiful but a bit short - makes me curious to listen to the album. Edenya: Hmm, not sure what to think of this one. A dark folky rock track veering towards a prog metal style before returning to the folk side of things and then up again. I'm not fan of this singing style (which seems to be the norm in female fronted prog/metal bands), which is maybe technically perfect, but it doesn't convey much emotion to me. Musically it is quite nice though.

Edited by Snicolette - January 21 2024 at 19:28

Votes for sole picks

Lorenzo! Nice to see you around. Your creation lives on!

Finally I found the time to listen to all nominations consciously. This is a pretty good year; I also will have difficulties to select 20 for my albums of the year list. Same thing here, lots of tracks compete for the three votes. 

Edited by Lewian - January 20 2024 at 10:43

My personal impressions after listening...

Squid: I have listened to the album Monolith, but was much put of by the vocals. This is maybe one of the more appealing tracks, but it lacks the adventurousness that the intro promises... to my ears.

Aksak Maboul: Another album I listened to, but I still don't really can get "into" it. This is a very enjoyable track though.

Pixie Ninja: This immediately clicks with me. It has something minimalist and atmospheric and sonically very rich. Wonderful!

Grace Potter: Very pleasant unpretentious but enjoyable rock. The problem is that it is up here against stiff competition for prog lovers (I guess my suggestion of De Staat will meet the same fate).

Harp: This precise track came by on the radio, last Monday. Gentle, melodic and soothing, Beautiful but a bit short - makes me curious to listen to the album.

Grave Pleasures: Another more straightforward rock track, a bit New Wave-y this time.Very nice to hear.

Zopp: A nice 70s tinged prog track which lacks the originality to my ears to be a contender here (I've listened to the whole album): too much following old formulas (yes, I am one who appreciates originality in music).

The Chronicles of Father Robin: Talking about old formulas... I've listened to this album to, because of the rave reviews, but to my ears this is even worse than Zopp: it lacks even more of that originality and is all the more formulaic to be a contender here.

Voyou: Nice and enjoyable orchestral pop-rock, but again: up against stiff competition here.

Canned Dream: Nice opening on the sax joined by a dissonant guitar and later a parlando voice. A rich instrumentation and some free jazz touches makes this quite adventurous. A great listen.

Sufjan Stevens: I always like what I hear from him (he came by in the same radio program referred to above), but it is also something on the more conventional side of things. But the arrangements are always very rich and interesting, which makes it a good listen.

Radian: Ah, something more experimental and you know that I tend to like those things. No exception here, these are intriguing sonic (electronic) post-rocky adventures. I like this.

Go Go Machine Orchestra: Another one that immediately attracts my ears; an interesting fusion of jazz rock with electro. Very subtle - despite the sometimes rocky guitar, but not very upfront in the mix - and atmospheric. Great one!

D'Virgilio Morse and Jennings: Nice guitar-voice ballad. I like the vocal harmonies, but unfortunately the lead singer has the least engaging voice.

Edenya: Hmm, not sure what to think of this one. A dark folky rock track veering towards a prog metal style before returning to the folk side of things and then up again. I'm not fan of this singing style (which seems to be the norm in female fronted prog/metal bands), which is maybe technically perfect, but it doesn't convey much emotion to me. Musically it is quite nice though.

Host: Another New Wave-y track with interesting sonic atmosphere - Depeche Mode meets Killing Joke? Nice acoustic guitar interludes, but unfortunately I don't like the oomphf-dong electro/disco beat.

Uriah Heep: I was pleasantly surprised by their new album (it almost ended up in my top 20) and this too is a great rock track. I like it, but the competition is ferocious here.

Zaho de Sagazan: I think I've heard some of her work in a radio program where she guested. This is the better kind of electro-pop. Not sure though if a whole album of this could stand the test (my personal test that is requiring some diversity in an album). This track is very enjoyable.


I very much liked the diversity this playlist had to offer! Thanks to all of you!
Now I'll have to think of how to vote...

Logan wrote: ^^ Nickie actually had changed her original pick from Another Place to These Walls. I ended up remaking that list and copying from the posts thus the discrepancy. The one in the playlist and the list of the playlist is correct.

mathman0806 wrote: Hi Mila and Happy New Year! Glad you made it back to participate in this poll. I have some catching up to do with your suggestions.