Feature / Music
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2023)

July 6, 2023

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2023)
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2023)

Kristen's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far

1

Meet Me @ The Altar - Past // Present // Future

Meet Me @ The Altar - Past // Present // Future

Fueled by Ramen

Picture this: You’re re-discovering pop-punk again. Or at least this badass, catchy version that doesn’t care what you think of them and knows exactly who they are. You’re full of emotions, both happy and sad. And yes, these songs are extremely addicting and will get stuck in your head. Listen to this album during your summer roadtrip, when you’re having a shitty day, when you’re dancing in your room alone—through and through, you can’t go wrong here.

 

2

Boygenius - The Record

Boygenius - The Record

Interscope

Picture this: An instant mood booster, summer serotonin. A perfectly harmonized dream of a record. It’s no secret how talented Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus are, but together, their music truly radiates. Hope you brought your shades and sunscreen for this one, you’re gonna need it.

 

 

3

Black Belt Eagle Scout - The Land, The Water, The Sky

Black Belt Eagle Scout - The Land, The Water, The Sky

Saddle Creek

Picture this: A hazy, slightly overcast PNW day. It’s hard for Black Belt Eagle Scout to not scream PNW to me, but given this album was recorded in a converted church in Anacortes, Washington near the Swinomish Reservation where she grew up, you can truly hear the origin roots embedded in these songs. They run wide and deep like the rivers surrounding them, full of life and ethereal transcendence that one often finds naturally in the PNW. For this one, you just need to be outside.

4

Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch

Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch

Wax Bodega

Picture this: You’re lonely with crippling self-doubt and anxiety, but you still like to have a good time—this record is for you. We all have those days where we just don’t quite feel like ourselves and the self-doubt creeps in, but at the same time we understand it’s weirdly a part of life and we don’t like to take ourselves too seriously. I mean, with song titles about a cock party and John Cena, how could we? You’ll need a kiddy pool, some snacks, and your alcoholic beverage of choice for this one.

5

Real Friends - There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late

Real Friends - There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late

Pure Noise Records

Picture this: A break-up, a bad day, a bummer of a summer—this record has you covered. The album title says it all, truly songs about falling out of love and becoming strangers with someone. We all have regrets, so whether you’re in the midst of a relationship ending or purely reminiscing, this record doesn’t disappoint. Would recommend staying hydrated and a full pint of ice cream for this one.

- Kristen Swanson

Skip to page View as a single page

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2023)
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2023)

Pages in this feature

  1. Opening page
  2. Cheryl's Top 5 of 2023 So Far
  3. Christopher D's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
  4. Delaney's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
  5. Dennis' Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
  6. Kristen's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
  7. Loren's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
  8. Sarah Jane's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far

Related features

Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2026

Maria (Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental – vocals/artist) SPB: The artwork of your album took over a year to make. What was this long experience like for you? Maria: If I were to put it shortly, the first thing that comes to mind is a long and winding road: exhausting but exciting … Read more

Brux

One Question Interviews • April 14, 2026

Brux SPB: You choose to skip English and sing in your mother tongue. What are the pros and cons of this choice for you? Brux: Our songs are mostly in our mother tongue (spanish / catalan), we just have a few in English. Pros: they sound more natural, the link … Read more

The Goons

One Question Interviews • April 13, 2026

Serge (The Goons - vocals) SPB: How did writing the new material compare to when you sat down and started work on your last record – 19 years ago? Serge: The old stuff was written more collaboratively than the recent songs. These days we don’t get together as often as … Read more

The Arrivals

Interviews • April 12, 2026

The Arrivals have been a band for 30 years -- though they’ve made us wait 16 years for the follow-up to 2010’s Volatile Molotov. While a ton of time has passed and the band has moved, literally in some cases, and raised children in others, their sound is still the … Read more

The Gits

Interviews • April 11, 2026

Almost three decades after their original run, The Gits remain a vital part of Seattle’s punk rock history. Their raw intensity, emotional directness, and fiercely independent spirit continue to resonate with new generations discovering them through streaming platforms and reissues. In 2026, the band’s legacy is further honored with the … Read more

More from this section

The New York Dolls: Reflections and Legacy

Music • March 30, 2026

I first discovered the New York Dolls in the mid-to-late 1980s, just as I was beginning to stretch the boundaries of my musical journey. Up until then, my exposure to music had mostly come through my parents, aunts, and uncles. They planted the initial seeds, and those seeds quickly grew, … Read more

Post Office Experiences

Music • March 10, 2026

In a different world, which we think was shortly before COVID and MAGA and all things bad and in ALL CAPS occurred, Scene Point Blank had the idea to write a comprehensive piece about mailorder experiences from the people who dedicate their free time to sending you records, cds, tapes, … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #2

Music / New Kids On The Block • January 12, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and then die out, and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, a little help never hurts! So here we are, your … Read more