Every year I’m excited to do a roundup of the favorite recordings that either came out, or were first heard by me, that year. In addition to audio recordings, I’m including a few other types of recordings – films, shows, and live performances that stuck with me.
Recorded Music
Säje (Säje)
On A Clear Day (Chanticleer)
Acrobats (Jo Lawry)
Linger Awhile (Samara Joy)
Losing My Mind (Darmon Meader)
Bewitched (Laufey)
Bones (Michael Mayo)
Sweeney Todd (2023 Cast Recording)
Fifty (The Manhattan Transfer)
Live Music
I attended two concerts this year that really moved me.
Gold Company with special guest Michael Mayo. Michael Mayo is a remarkable performer making fantastic music. Hearing him live was a special treat, alongside the always excellent Gold Company.
James Taylor and His All-Star Band, live in Mount Pleasant in June. JT is such a compelling live performer. In front of thousands gathered outdoors on the side of a hill, he somehow made the evening feel intimate and personal – alongside an amazing band and production including lights and projection. Our whole family attended and loved it. I was particularly moved by his closing encore, a duet with his son of his lullaby “You Can Close Your Eyes.”
Movies & Shows
I’m currently watching the new Percy Jackson series. It was a pity to say goodbye to Ted Lasso this year; the third season was brilliant. The Barbie Movie was great, I loved Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and Knives Out: Glass Onion is worth multiple watches. I may or may not get to two anticipated films before the end of 2023: American Symphony and Maestro.
Podcasts
This is the audio media I spent the most time with this year. These are the podcasts I recommend most frequently.
Dear Hank and John: They make me laugh, care about the right things, and just generally are working hard to make the world a little better.
On Being: Krista crafts amazing conversations together with amazing people.
Smartless: The conversations make me laugh but also frequently make me think about creativity, masculinity, culture, and more.
Strike Force Five: This podcast is over, but it was a fascinating look into late night co-hosted by five late night hosts during the writers strike.
Working It Out With Mike Birbiglia: It’s a fantastic conversation about the creative process. Unusually, it actually includes some creative work – Birbiglia is often workshopping and developing jokes with his guests. Listen to this conversation with Ira Glass.
Other favorite podcasts include Re-Thinking With Adam Grant, The Moment With Brian Koppelman, 99 Percent Invisible, RadioLab, Scoring Notes, The Happiness Lab, Poetry Unbound, Design Matters With Debbie Millman, and A Bit of Optimism.