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

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

One Question Interviews • September 23, 2026

Mikey (Eddy Current Suppression Ring) SPB: Australians seem to love Canada, when are ECSR coming to play here? Miked: as much as i'd dearly LOVE to go to Canada, it doesn't look super likely on my or the band's immediate radar. we only just played interstate down here for the … Read more

Oskoed Slotters

One Question Interviews • September 22, 2026

Maarten (Oskoed Slotters) SPB: What is your favorite Ramones song? Maarten: My favorite Ramones song is probably “53rd & 3rd.” The debut Ramones album is one of the first punk records I heard. My dad bought a copy when it came out when he was about 16 years-old. When I … Read more

Red Rockers

Interviews • September 20, 2026

By 1981, the Red Rockers were famously branded "The American Clash" by Lester Bangs -- a tag that carried both the weight of massive expectations and the raw power of a band exploding out of the New Orleans humidity. Decades before they became MTV fixtures with the polished pop hooks … Read more

Shrapnel Pop #1

Regular Columns / Shrapnel Pop • September 19, 2026

I was about 4 years old and in preschool. It was a “meet and greet” day and my dad took me. This was exciting, because I adored him and thought he was basically the coolest person on earth. I marched in, dragging him along behind me, and approached my teacher. … Read more

Vivabeat

Interviews • September 6, 2026

LA’s Art-Punk Pioneers Who Bridged Continents and Genres In 1978, Vivabeat emerged from Los Angeles with a sound that defied easy categorization. As I spoke with Marina and Mick years later, it became clear that this was a band always slightly out of step with the local scene -- East … Read more

More from this section

Anathema Editions

Music / History 101 • August 11, 2026

Did you know it’s been 10 years since Anathema Editions put out its first release? To make the moment, we reached out to founder Terence Hannum to share some label history. In keeping with our “History 101” concept, SPB asked for anecdotes about 4 of the label’s releases and then … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #4

Music / New Kids On The Block • July 7, 2026

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