The past 12 months may go down in history as a period of tumult and turmoil, but on the positive side, rock’n’roll is very much alive and well – as our writers’ choices of 2023 reflect.
50 PAUL RODGERS
It is an event when one of the greatest voices in rock releases his first solo album of new material in almost 25 years. Paul Rodgers sings of still living it up, having a little fun and loving the blues. But memories of Free and Bad Company are a distant echo on a collection that places his gilt-edged rock tone in a mellow musical zone.
Killer track: Living It Up
49 GREEN LUNG
Snapped up by Nuclear Blast Records after two acclaimed albums, Green Lung are bringing thunderous occult vibes to the mainstream. This Heathen Land is their most refined effort to date: a “journey into occult Albion” that takes in grandiose anthems like The Forest Church and Mountain Throne, psych-rock curio Maxine, and doomed-out epics One For Sorrow and Oceans Of Time. Should be huge. Probably will be.
Killer track: One For Sorrow
48 THE DEFIANTS
Hair-metal is alive and well in a band featuring three veterans of Danger Danger, whose peacocking was cut short by grunge in the early 90s, but whose party-animal spirit remains strong. There is an irresistible joie de vivre in the top-down anthem 19 Summertime. And the big ballad, Miracle, will have prom queens from the 80s crying their hearts out.
Killer track: 19 Summertime
47 BROTHERS OSBORNE
On the back of an emotionally weighty, soul-bearing period (with guitarist John opening up about mental health struggles, and singer TJ coming out – making him the first openly gay man signed to a major country label), it’s not surprising that the brothers’ latest album is their self-titled one. Full of soaring, Springsteen-esque textures, warm southern rock storytelling and, ultimately, celebration.
Killer track: Nobody’s Nobody Paul Rodgers
46 ANN WILSON &TRIPSITTER
The voice is familiar, the band less so, but there’s a lot to like here. The hypnotic, borderline proggy groove of opener Tripsitter sets the scene before the Wilson roar really kicks in on Rain Of Hell and soars on What If. The 80s-style radio moments (Stranger In AStrange Land), stabby rockers (Rusty Robots) and love songs (Still) prove that the Heart singer can still deliver the goods.
Killer track: Rain Of Hell
45 DEWOLFF
The most classic classic rock album of 2023 comes from Dutch band DeWolff. From the pumping brass and organ on Night Train, via the sultry Will O
