Sixthman Team + Artists Share Their Favorite Releases of 2023
/Hey friends!
It’s that time of the year again when we all share our favorite music from the past twelve months! This time around, we’re featuring both Sixthman Artists + Team members. We’ve compiled all of our favs into this Spotify Playlist for your listening pleasure. Thanks to everyone who contributed, and if YOU yourself would like to join in on the conversation, please share your favorite releases in the comments below.
Another magical year in the books out on the high seas. Thank you to all of our guests, artists, partners, and friends for setting sail with Sixthman and allowing us the opportunity to Live Loud with all of you. Happy Holidays + Happy New Year to everyone, much love and even more music…
- Trae
+ LAKE STREET DIVE
2024 Sixthman Events: Cayamo
Here are the band's top 5 albums this year!
- Olivia Rodrigo - Guts
Whew Just… realizing that I’m putting this down as my favorite album of the year fills me with a host of emotions— surprise, wonder, glee. Here’s the thing: I am not OR’s target demographic, nor am I a steady listener to this kind of popular music. But the hooks! The enchanting lyrics! The attitude! The range of vocal character! And to round it off, the production takes me to a place in the 90’s that will forever be associated with the energy of my musical adolescence through fierce grooves and distorted riffs.
- Rachael and Vilray : I Love a Love Song!
There’s no one alive that can write a song like Vilray. And by that, I mean all the people who could write songs like him are dead. Add that to an all star band, recording together in a classic LA studio, this lush, funny, romantic album sounds will you make your heart sing.
- Os Tincoas album "Canto Coral Afrobrasiliero"
https://open.spotify.com/album/5nPh3YWXdvHSCjFFECjR63?si=06XIP1hVRIaFRJUUq43x8w
This Brazilian choral album was actually made 50 years ago but just released this year. My friend Garren Volper recommended it to me and I was immediately spellbound by the harmony, the beautiful choral singing and the minimalist, mostly percussive accompaniment. Akie, James and I were carpooling to a recording session together one September morning in Tennessee and were so captivated by the music we missed our turn and then spent another 40 minutes correcting this mistake, driving on back country roads basking in the sweet sounds of Os Tincoas. When the record finished, we started it over again. It's that kind of album!
- Mélusine - Cecile McLorin Salvant
https://open.spotify.com/album/1AP6E8gCkPzDjFC8DrGFPc?si=hfjfOsIWQ86cfpSEJYIzlg
Do you like stories? How about when they are centuries old? How about a legend?! One where, due to a curse put on her mother, a woman must transform into a half-snake one day a week for her whole life. Despite this... condition, she agrees to marry a man named Raymondin so long as he promises never to even SEE her on Saturdays (when she is transformed). Of course, curiosity gets the better of ol' Raymondin and he uses a sword to pierce Mélusine's private chamber door and, peering through the hole, sees her in her half-woman, half-snake form. The betrayal turns Mélusine into a dragon and she flies away! Thereafter she only reappears when one of her descendents is about to die. That's pretty good stuff, I'd say. The music and singing on this album are beautiful and beguiling and intense. If you want get the minutiae of the tale, you'll need to bone up on your French, Haitian Kreyol, and, of course, Occitan (a language dating back to about the 8th Century) – as the majority of the album is not in English. That said, for me, the music of Mélusine transcends language, speaking directly to the soul.
- Emily King -- Special Occasion
When it comes to writing and singing songs, Emily King might be the non plus ultra. This record was part of my daily life from the day it came right up to the writing of this blurb. While the title implies that it is maybe only suited for grand events, I'd argue that it is either perfect for any occasion or that it makes any occasion a special one – be that a night out, a morning in, or a long afternoon walk through town or country.
+ Scott Terry, Red Wanting Blue
2023 Sixthman Events: The Rock Boat
The National - “First Two Pages Of Frankenstein”
Sufjan Stevens - “Javelin”
Gord Downie & Bob Rock - “Lustre Parfait”
Boygenius - “The Record”
The Zombies - “Different Game”
+ Anthony Diaz, Outgoing CEO + CMO
2023 Sixthman Events: Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea · Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean · Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Cruise · EDSEA · Sail Across the Sun · The Beach Boys Cruise · The Broadway Cruise
Paramore - This Is Why
Marcus King - Young Blood
Primo Jab - Jabgoblin
Goose - Autumn Crossing
Dirty Honey - Can't Fin The Brakes
+ ALEX KEEFE, Manager of Events
2023 Sixthman Events: Rock The Bells Cruise
Petey - USA
Fave Song = The Freedom to Fuck Off
Hot Tip – follow his IG @petey_usa for strange and funny videos.
Renee Rapp - Everything to Everyne
Song Pick = Everything to Everyone Extended
Kelly Clarkson - Chemistry
Song pick = SKIP THIS PART
Those 3 albums are great front to back, no skips!
Trousdale - If I'm Honest
BLUEY but punk rock How you know you have a 3-year-old…
+ MADS BAKKENSEN JOHANSEN, Talent Buyer & Event Management Intern
2023 Sixthman Events: Headbangers Boat
Spiritbox - The Fear of Fear
I came late to the party and saw them for the first time at Copenhell this summer and I instantly became a fan. This EP makes me hungry for more! Congratulations on the GRAMMY nomination.
Periphery - Djent Is Not a Genre
One of my all-time favorite bands provided me with another masterpiece. Definitely the album I've been spinning the most in 2023.
Tash Sultana - SUGAR EP.
Tash Sultana came to my attention right when I started at Sixthman in August. What a musical journey they've been on, and I truly admire the musicality!
Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden
The masters of variation. Period.
EYES - Congratulations
EYES from my native Denmark brings the brutality and intensity that every headbanger loves. Not so office-friendly, unless you're into fighting invisible ninjas with your colleagues during lunch.
The wildcard:
Lamb of God - Evidence
When your favorite of them all releases a single to celebrate their latest album "Omens" birthday AND you're sailing with them on their own cruise, you have to put them on the list!
+ Prince Daddy & The Hyena, artist
2023 Sixthman Events: S.S. Neverender
Olivia Rodrigo - Guts
Militarie Gun - Life Under The Gun
Calicuzns - S/T
Restraining order - Locked in Time
Equipment - Alt Account
+ Hailee Stewart, Artist relations specialist
2023 Sixthman Events: 311 Caribbean Cruise · Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean · Cayamo · Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Cruise · Headbangers Boat · Soulshine at Sea
Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
Dave Matthews Band - Walk Around The Moon
The Nude Party - Rides On
The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
Geese - 3D Country
+ MIKE SIMON, SENIOR MANAGER TALENT BUYER
2023 Sixthman Events: The Rock Boat · Cayamo · 311 Caribbean Cruise · Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean · Fully Loaded at Sea · Headbangers Boat · Soulshine at Sea
The National – First Two Pages of Frankenstein
Tyler Childers – Rustin In The Rain
BoyGenius – The Record
El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game
Emily King – Special Occasion
+ Tyler Regelsky, Artist Relations Specialist
2023 Sixthman Events: 311 Caribbean Cruise · Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean · Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Cruise · The Beach Boys Cruise · The Broadway Cruise · S.S. Neverender · Salty Dog Cruise
MS Paint - Post-American
This release feels like hardcore from the future. A perfect balance of synths and aggression lead to my favorite record of 2023. Album is equal parts epic album and promising hints for the future of the group. Every track is laced with an important message that the band commandingly hammers into you each time.
Paramore - This is Why
Paramore brought back guitars and in the best way. So many call backs to the mid-00s indie scene while also maintaining a bit of groove they caught with After Laughter. Hope this is a sign that they’ll never hang up the guitars!
Bully - Lucky For You
Album is chopped full of nostalgic sounds but still feels fresh and vibrant. One of the most underrated songwriters at the moment, the album might be Alicia’s best full collection of songs yet. The fullest and most dynamic Bully record yet.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
Titles long but the riffs are longer, and stankier. The band’s second dip into heavy metal is a story wrapped drive through hell full of witches and gila monsters. Why put quality over quantity when you could do both?
Home is Where – The Whaler
This one is going to be looked back on as an emo classic. The Florida band feels like they took another step forward after their already stellar debut LP. The band continues to push the genre forward along with sounding like they’ve already established themselves in it.
+ Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin
2023 Sixthman Events: Headbangers Boat
Metallica - 72 Seasons
Spiritbox - The Fear Of Fear EP
Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden
Unearth - The Wretched; The Ruinous
Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific
+ TYLER MARTINEZ aka TITO, Biz Dev Specialist
2023 Sixthman Events: The Beach Boys Cruise · 311 Caribbean Cruise · Headbangers Boat · Salty Dog Cruise
My personal top 5 records of 2023:
Foo Fighters - Nothing At All
Blink 182 - One More Time
Jungle - Volcano
The Hives - The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons
The Teskey Brothers - The Winding Way
+ Jeff Cuellar, Incoming CEO / VP Events, Marketing, & Community
2023 Sixthman Events: Fully Loaded at Sea · Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea · Dude Perfect Cruise · Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean · EDSEA · Rock The Bells Cruise · The Beach Boys Cruise · The Broadway Cruise
Sigur Ros - Atta
Lil Yachty - Let’s Start Here
Lana Del Rey - Did you know there is a tunnel under ocean boulevard
Sampha - Lahai
Kaytramine - Kaytramine
Honorable mentions:
Depeche Mode - Momemto Mori
Killer Mike - Michael
Romy - Mid Air
Larry June and The Alchemist- The Great Escape
The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein
Skrillex - Quest for Fire
Noname - Sundial
El Michaels Affair & Black Thought - Glorious Game
+ TRAE VEDDER, TALENT BUYER, ARTIST COLLABORATIONS, & FESTIVAL DEVELOPMENT
2023 Sixthman Events: The Rock Boat · Cayamo · Outlaw Country Cruise · S.S. Neverender · Salty Dog Cruise · Rock The Bells Cruise
The Hives · The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons
The greatest band in the land returns with an albums worth of tasty big time bangers. "Bogus Operandi" sets the tone and we're off to the races for a half hour of nasty four-on-the-floor deliciousness.
Tommy Prine · This Far South
"Ships In The Harbor" says it all really. It's been incredible to see such a humble, honest, and true artist take root and carve his own path ... the world is better with his songs in it and he's just getting started.
Josiah and The Bonnevilles · Endurance
"Blood Moon" is what grabbed me and I've been hooked ever since, my kind of let's just hit the road, turn on the radio, and never stop driving kind of music ... his cover of Creed's "One Last Breath" swept me up as well.
Cat Clyde · Down Rounder
Hands down my favorite voice of 2023, everything about this record sounds (and is) amazing, but it's her voice and the emotion, that's what makes these songs so special. "Everywhere I Go" and "Real Love" are highlights, but from start to finish, this record is top notch songwriting.
Beans On Toast · The Toothpaste And The Tube
Shedding a tear amongst a boatful of fellow punk rockers isn't what I had planned, but when the music takes hold, let it! "Send Me A Bird" put me in stitches and I couldn't wait to hear the rest of the record from there.
*If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share in our passion for music + music discovery! Thanks to all of the guests, artists, and friends that sailed with us in 2023, it was our pleasure to have you aboard, and here's to more in the future. Happy Holidays and much love to you and yours from the entire Sixthman family.
LAUNCH PLAYLIST: Sixthman Team + Artists Top Releases 2023
