Pohoda 2023 artists' albums in the top charts of the world for the past year
The six announced artists who will perform at Trenčín Airport in July 2023 were included in the top selections of the best albums and songs of the past year. Renowned international media praised last year's work of bands and singers Wet Leg, Yard Act, Dry Cleaning, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Jamie xx, and Viagra Boys.
12. January 2023
Among the mentioned artists, Wet Leg's debut album of the same name received the highest rating. It was named the best album of the year in four charts (Under the Radar, Yahoo Entertainment, Coup De Main, KCRW) and occupied the top positions in the other charts.
“Indeed, there are no fillers or 'skippers' as they’re predominantly called in the digital age among the 12 songs that make up Wet Leg. Instead, the duo—Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers—have created one of the most delightful debut albums of the 21st century and already elevated themselves to Academy venue and festival headline status (in the UK at least)," concludes Under the Radar that named it the best album in the world for 2022.
Rolling Stone Magazine considers this duo from the Isle of Wight to be one of the best rock bands of the past five years. “To think that Wet Leg have only been in the public consciousness for eighteen months now seems utterly ridiculous when you say it out loud, but that just goes to show the impact of their staggering rise so far. With the release of their eponymous debut album, the duo - Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers - rapidly expanded upon their eclectic and giddy musical world, inviting listeners to revel at their witty but whimsical musings on life as we know it. And revel we have; from topping the charts, to winning over fans in the likes of Florence Welch, Elton John, Dave Grohl and Harry Styles, who’s since covered their addictive early single ‘Wet Dream’ and invited them to open his stadium tour," writes DIY Magazine about their debut.
Critics evaluate all twelve songs of the Wet Leg album positively and four of them were selected as the world's best songs of 2022: Chaise Lounge, Wet Dream, Angelica and Ur Mum (Pitchfork, DIY, NME, GQ, Consequence).
Wet Leg's worldwide success is confirmed by its Mercury Prize nomination and, most importantly, its four Grammy nominations (the fifth being a remix of their song Too Late Now by Soulwax). The Grammy Awards will be announced and presented on Sunday night, February 5 in Los Angeles.
We are very happy that this young, but already globally successful and acclaimed band will perform for fans in Slovakia. Don't miss it and come to Pohoda on 6 – 8 July 2023.
Another world-renowned album of the past year is The Overload by the British band Yard Act. It was placed in the TOP 20 albums in the world by The Independent (6th place), The Telegraph (10th), DIY (11th), NME and musicOMH (both 15th), Under the Radar (18th) and Gigwise (19th). "Yard Act is a must-see live band," writes DIY Magazine. "The Overload features 11 tracks of post-punk melodies that could also become indie anthems, with witty lyrics that are the perfect take on British life and establish Yard Act as one of the most interesting bands to emerge from the Great Britain," musicOMH magazine praises Yard Act's The Overload mainly for refreshing the music scene: "While Ed Sheeran and Adele are undoubtedly talented, there's something very safe about them. What's needed is a band who take risks, who sound utterly refreshing and will make parents around the country bang on bedroom doors, yelling 'what the hell are you listening to?'
Stumpwork by another post-punk British band Dry Cleaning also ranked among the top twenty best albums in the world for 2022: DIY (10th place), Under the Radar (13th), musicOMH (17th), The Guardian (19th). "The surrealistic second album of the quartet from South London carries an unexpected poignancy. The bizarre logic of Florence Shaw's spoken and sung lyrics is even crazier and more confusing than ever in 'Stumpwork,'” Pitchfork Magazine describes DryCleaning's album.
Topical Dancer by Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul is another highly acclaimed album of 2022 (7th place NME, 18th musicOMH, 22nd Pitchfork, 34th The Guardian). "In a world of rigid thinking and hard borders between countries and sounds, the Belgium-based duo make their lunge towards freedom. 'Thank yourself / Praise your body / Celebrate and dance,' they urge. Liberation can be found in the body, they suggest – in reclaimed sexuality, a clear mind and a deep belly laugh," The Guardian characterizes the album. Anna Gaca of Pitchfork Magazine describes her experience of the duo's performance: "When Charlotte Adigéry performed 'It Hit Me,' her wryly funny, devastatingly naive recollection of being sexually harassed in public at age 13, I witnessed all the men in the room—and only the men in the room—suddenly freeze. That’s the subversive sociological impact of Topical Dancer, in which Adigéry and her musical partner Bolis Pupul mint teen-mag dating advice, racist microaggressions, and dance-music clichés into absurdist Sprechgesang disco." As MNE Magazine wrote: "Their debut album ‘Topical Dancer’ is a triumphant middle finger to the people that need to see it the most.” MusicOMH adds: "Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul could well be the best thing to come out of Belgium since craft beer and artisanal chocolate.”
Cave World by Swedish band Viagra Boys is among the best albums of the past year not only according to critics (Under the Radar 39th place), but also fans (albumoftheyear.com, 36th place). Saxophone grooves and twisted post-punk guitars are the soundtrack to a record full of venomous imaginary and paranoid InfoWars-style catchphrases. The band lets out the darkness and absurdity of the cultural spirit of the time, with a perfect dose of satire and in their characteristic chaotic style (Under the Radar).
And finally, we'll add one more ranking tidbit. Jamie xx didn't release an album last year, but he released two singles. And just one of them, LET'S DO IT AGAIN, was listed by NME Magazine among the 50 best songs in the world for 2022. It is based on a vocal soul sample – the song Super High On Your Love by Bobby Barnes. As NME Magazine writes, the song is full of dopamine that will get you into the party and is destined to become every festival's anthem. We believe that it will also become yours at Pohoda 2023.