2023 :: Favorite Music

Welcome to the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list. There was a lot of great music in 2023, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite top 50, presented here in alphabetical order. I hope you see some of your favorites and find something new. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What has been your favorite music of 2023?

the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list:


  • Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • A Trip To Bolgatanga by African Head Charge // BC // FB // Insta //Amzn //

  • Tony Allen JID018 by Tony Allen, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Jazz Is Dead) // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • New Blue Sun by André 3000 // site // Amzn //

  • My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross by Anohni & The Johnsons // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //


  • Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily // site // Amzn //

  • Black Duck by Black Duck // BC // Amzn //

  • Sun Arcs by Blue Lake // BC // Amzn //

  • Sahel by Bombino // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy // BC // Amzn //


  • Dimanche à Bamako by Bounaly // BC // Amzn //

  • the Record by boygenius // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) by jaimie branch // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Nocturnal Country by Sammy Brue // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Villagers by Califone // site // BC // FB // Amzn //


  • Chitinous Mandible by Chitinous Mandible // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Hostile Environment by Creation Rebel // BC // Amzn //

  • Shadow Kingdom by Bob Dylan // site // FB // Amzn //

  • & the Charm by Avalon Emerson // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Some Kinda Love Performing The Music Of the Velvet Underground by the Feelies // site // BC // Amzn //


  • A River Running To Your Heart by Fruit Bats // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Let the Moon Be a Planet by Steve Gunn & David Moore // BC // Amzn //

  • Philanthropy by Hauschka // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Days In The Desert by High Pulp // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Oh Me Oh My by Lonnie Holley // site // BC // FB // Amzn //


  • James and the Giants by James and the Giants // BC // Amzn //

  • Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey // site // FB // Amzn //

  • New Future City Radio by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek // BC // Amzn //

  • No Fixed Point In Space by Modern Nature // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae // site // BC // FB // Amzn //


  • Since Time Is Gravity by Natural Information Society // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Travel by the Necks // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Jump On It by Bill Orcutt // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Switched-On by Pachyman // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • After the Magic by 파란노을 (Parannoul) // BC // Insta // Amzn //


  • The Times by Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Drag On Girard by Purling Hiss // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Window by Ratboys // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Garden Party by Rose City Band // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Live at Third Man Records by Rich Ruth // BC // Insta // Amzn //


  • Robed In Rareness by Shabazz Palaces // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Everything Is Alive by Slowdive // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Javelin by Sufjan Stevens // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Music Is Victory Over Time by Sunwatchers // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Secret Stratosphere by William Tyler And The Impossible Truth // BC // FB // Amzn //



jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: Roulette, Brooklyn :: XXIII Vision Festival :: 05.28.18

As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

So far we’ve visited a solo set, a trio set and a two-part live show. Let’s round out the week with this quartet setup, live from 2018. This one includes a bit more information, including the players, which include branch on Trumpet, Anton Hatwich on Bass ,Lester St. Louis on Cello, Chad Taylor on Drums.

This was at: Roulette Intermedium, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn May 28th 2018


  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon


jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: First St. Green : Arts For Art :: Paris :: 09/29/19

As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

So far, we/ve visited a solo set and examined two of her songs with lyrics and another one Yesterday we covered a band set, and today is branch in a trio format. As with the other sets, not a lot of information or tracklisting here, but ti’s great nonetheless. This set features Branch on trumpet, Luke Stewart on bass, Mike Pride on drums.

OH, and apparently this was “on Roy Campbell & Steve Dalachinsky's birthday.”


  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon


jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: Solo Set (2022)

As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

First up is a solo set from “Record Shop - July 2 2022.”

Not much else information about this one, but it’s well worth your time.


  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon