Next up favorite Finnish EPs of the year. I was a bit lazy and only did a top 5 here. Some might not be into EPs, but they can be pretty sweet and actually the first two here are probably even among my five favorite Finnish releases this year altogether. Haamusoittajat probably could have been on the album list too, because even though it’s just six songs, the total length is over 30 minutes. So I don’t really know is it an EP or an album, but what I do know is that it’s wonderful and I love it to bits. Then there’s the lovely Söpöily-EP from one of my favorite artists of the last two years ITE EEROLA. I’ve listened the last song Pehmeelle pojalle well over hundred times. Mild obsession there I suppose and my Finnish song of the year along with 3-4 cuts from the Kristiina album. I couldn’t really decide between the two, so ITE EEROLA and Haamusoittajat can share the EP of the year honors. My blog so I can bend the rules a little bit.
Anyway, here are all five favorite Finnish EPs of 2023. All of them are gorgeous. I didn’t make a separate playlist for these and instead added them to the earlier Finnish albums playlist.
The year end routine continues with the Finnish albums of the Year. A good year of Finnish music again and even though the list is fairly long, I still had to leave out a lot of good albums. As usual, this is list is 100% subjective. I do not try to cover everything and make any kind of objective best Finnish albums of the year list. It’s just my favorites and the music that I loved during the year. I did put the numbers there, but it’s kind of arbitrary. Album of the year was obvious, because that’s the album I loved by far the most in 2023 even if you take all countries into consideration. #2 was pretty set as well, but after that I could easily move albums up or down 5 spots and be just as happy with the list. Music is love, not a competition.
There’s a playlist link with one song each, if you are into such things. An easy way to give an introduction, but do try to the buy music that really matters to you. If you are able to do that of course. Food, rent and staying alive are always more important no matter how hard one wants to support the arts. Oh and I was lazy and didn’t write any blurbs, but I think most of you would only check the albums on the list anyway. Bandcamp embeds only for top three, because otherwise the page just slows down.
And finally song of the year lists. First the Finnish ones. I’ll do these rather quickly, because I need a some kind of Christmas break from the blog stuff. These are mostly just a never-ending playlist, but I typed down some big favorites and chose the top 3. I’m sure there’s a ton missing from the playlist, because I didn’t do a great job keeping the ongoing list up to date throughout the year and this list was built using that. That ongoing list will slowly transfer to 2022, so this one will stay for the “history books”.
The playlist is slightly top heavy, but somewhat random after the first 3 and completely random after the first 30 or so. Oh yeah and Haamusoittajat would be easily among the top picks, but it was December 2020 release and ruled the lists already a year ago. However, it didn’t become streamable before January 2021 so I wanted to include it on the playlist.
Here’s 12 big favorites in random order. In some case there are two songs mentioned, because I couldn’t decide between the two. My silly lists, my silly rules.
Arppa – Täällä taas (Johanna Kustannus) Joakim Daal – Shelter (All That Plazz) Astrid Swan – Luxuries (Soliti) Eden Prairie – Birch Street / Josie Rock Siltanen Group – Pizzaa ja kaljaa / Santanan Kolmonen (Rockia ja sporttia) Laura Moisio – Kirje (Texicalli) Kielo Kärkkäinen – Ajattele tulevaa (Texicalli) Mustat Kalsarit – Puhu Musta (Hiljaiset levyt) Hulda Huima – Luomet kuin tähdet / Kotimatka (Helmi Levyt) Joose Keskitalo – Doors (Helmi Levyt) Amuri – Hattupäinen mies (Helmi Levyt) Tvärtom – Kadun humina (267 lattajjaa / Jumatsuga)
3. Teini-Pää – Näin sen unessa / Kissat ja koirat / Tähdet, Tähdet (Stupido / Soit Se Silti)
We’ll start the top three with an early peek to my Favorite Finnish albums of the year 2022 list. Everybody knows that Teini-Pää and Tvärtom are the best bands. The latter one took home the album of the year award while Teini-Pää released several fabulous singles. Well maybe Downtown was only good, but Näin sen unessa / Kissat ja koirat and Tähdet, Tähdet are absolutely marvellous.
And on the second place there’s this timeless folk beauty from Pekko Käppi & K:H:H:L. Another big favorite singer-songwriter Laura Moisio adds some vocal magic too. I kept changing the order of the first all the time, so this is basicly just as dear to me as the song of the year.
1. Ty Roxy- True Colours (Fonal Records)
My favorite Finnish song of the year is True Colours by Ty Roxy. What a perfect lofi version of the disco high life. The album 音楽 (music) has several equally great moments, but this started it all for me and therefore remains the dearest song on it. Love love love.
