Will Anderson’s second album as Hotline TNT, Cartwheel, is also his first for Jack White’s Third Man Records and finds him expanding his sound into a widescreen blend of shoegaze, heartland rock and melodic punk for a unique, appealing style. Ratboys named it as one of their favorite albums of 2023 and it’s likely to show up again as year-end list season ramps up. If you haven’t checked it out yet, listen to Cartwheel below.
Speaking of year-end lists, we asked Will to tell us about his favorite music of the year, which includes everything from Yo La Tengo and Power Trip offshoot Fugitive to PinkPanthress and Drake. Check out his list and commentary below.
HOTLINE TNT’s WILL ANDERSON – TOP 10 MUSIC OF 2023
Nourished by Time – Erotic Probiotic 2
I spent so much time with this record in 2023 and no matter how many times I spin it, the shock hasn’t worn off, there’s not a wasted note or key on the entire disc… if everyone felt the way I do about him, he would be touring in a private helicopter.
PinkPanthress – Heaven knows
I’m so happy she’s become such a massive star. The album has a few weird songs but I’m still getting used to it so I might come around on them with time. But the step “up” in production does not feel unnatural and I could listen to her sing over anything, yes even the odd irish jig from the Barbie movie. I kinda miss the louder synth from the TikTok snippets but I’m just so thrilled to have a full version of all those songs, I can’t see her missing a shot any time soon.
Drake – “Search and Rescue”
The LP has some great songs and the bonus disc made me laugh out loud a few times with some snappy lines, but this single was the best thing he did this year and my group chat was lit aflame the day he dropped it. I remember the next day walking around Ridgewood and I ran into my friend and we both had headphones in and both showed each other our phones and they both had that fabulously petty album art on the Lock Screen. Still sounds a bit like AI Drake but I guess that’s just the way it is.
Fugitive 7”
In my darkest moments of 2023 this song had me getting out of bed and putting one foot in front of the other which is one of my top criteria for amazing music. For about a month straight I listened to side one every single morning when I walked to the train to the high school I was working at. I also put it on during my lunch breaks when my fabulous students tried to annoy me, but the AirPods sent a clear message: the bell has rung, I’m listening to Fugitive and I do not know you.
Organ-ism – demo
The latest and greatest from the Milwaukee people and I think McClutchy is really dialing it in as far as how he wants to record on his four-track, the guitars are sitting exactly where I want them to, just not the kind of thing I want my parents to catch me listening to.
Poison Ruïn – “Harvest”
Their best song and one of the best Side 1 Track 1’s I’ve ever heard, it also passes the same sniff test that fugitive set the bar for, it makes me feel invincible – I can close my eyes and imagine the Horde of orcs trying to suffocate me until this brilliant medieval anthem explodes and I start hack and slashing with a giant ass sword. Love the rest of the album too but it’s all about pinnacle of ecstasy.
Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
They casually dropped another instant classic. This band is the goat of our genre and If you don’t love YLT I will never fully respect you. This album could’ve come out in 1993 or 2003 and i wouldn’t be able to tell and yes that is a positive thing.
Sword II – Spirit World Tour
My favorite new band of the year I’ve glossed them in other places already so I won’t beat a dead horse but the song “silver” will forever by stamped on my heart and remind me of 2023 and everything I went through.
12 Rods – If We Stayed Alive
The Minneapolis legends picked up right where they left off and this album makes me so happy. Ryan’s voice is so unique and the song structures and melodies he comes up with bend my mind, you just never know what’s coming next with the rods.
North Americans – Long Cool World
Perfect music that everybody should be on the same page about. I listened to this album a lot, all year, and it made sense in every type of weather (I tested it).
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Hotline TNT just started their West Coast run opening for Quicksand, and they’ll open for Wednesday in early 2024, including at NYC’s Brooklyn Steel on January 25. All dates:
HOTLINE TNT – 2023/2024 TOUR DATES
Tue. Nov. 28 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre #
Wed. Nov. 29 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos #
Fri. Dec. 1 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club #
Sat. Dec. 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent #
Fri. Jan. 19 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre @
Sat. Jan. 20 – Winston-Salem, NC @ SECCA @
Sun. Jan. 21 – Boone, NC @ Lily’s Snack Bar @
Mon. Jan. 22 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry @
Tue. Jan. 23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club @
Sat. Jan. 27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall @
Sun. Jan. 28 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop @
Tue. Jan. 30 – Nashville, TN @ Eastside Bowl @
Thu. Feb. 1 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s @
Fri. Feb. 2 – Pensacola, FL @ The Handlebar @^
Sat. Feb. 3 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits @^
Sun. Feb. 4 – Orlando, FL @ The Social @^
Tue. Feb. 6 – Miami, FL @ Gramps @^
Thu. Feb. 8 – Savannah, GA @ Lodge of Sorrows @
Fri. Feb. 9 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt @
Sat. Feb. 10 – Chattanooga, TN @ Cherry Street Tavern @
# w/ Quicksand
@ w/ Wednesday
^ w/ They Hate Change