Here Is The 2023 Plan

 

I'm getting asked when the IDHAS Best 100 Albums of 2023 will appear. As you know, I like to leave it until the second half of January to allow us to listen to as much as possible from the previous year. Like any other year, there have been some great albums released later in the year, in some cases when lists have already been published by the relevant compilers.

I still have reservations about compiling such a list. It really is comparing apples to oranges, but it is incredibly popular on here and as long as people remember this is personal taste that's fine. I think people know the type of thing that we like and that allows for differences to some other lists.

I don't start to compile the list until Monday and so currently have no idea what is where. It does feel that IDHAS has evolved and looking at other lists published thus far, our content does seem a little different. There will be similarities of course. When we started almost 8 years ago, there were great similarities to the likes of Powerpopholic, Power Pop Overdose and David Bash's much looked forward to list.

I looked at David's list and there was only four albums that I hadn't heard, but I sense that the IDHAS Best Of will be much different, which is not a criticism in any way and there will be dual inclusions. But it does underline how much we have changed in small degrees year by year. There was a year when David and I chose the same Number 1, but I don't think his No 1 this year may even make our 100.

We do seem to have more in common with the likes of Add To Want List and Faster And Louder, to name but two, over time. I look as us as more Indie Guitar based with no fear of including Psych, Prog There are still up to 15 albums to be reviewed before the lists are published and they will be posted by the end of Tuesday next.

As mentioned, the compiling begins on Monday with the first two Posts on Wednesday. These are posted in two sets of ten counting backwards, so 91 - 100 and 81 - 90 arrive on Wednesday. Then there are two a day until the final two on Sunday, when the Album Of The Year appears.

Each individual post will include a link to the relevant album review which also shows where you can listen to and buy the album. There will also be a track from the album embedded. The next Listening To This Week will appear as normal this Monday.

................................