The topics of the January issue
2023: The big annual review
It’s been the year of comebacks – for better or worse: The Rolling Stones and the Beatles made a surprise return, as did Britney Spears and Madonna. The supergroup concept was reactivated by Boygenius, everyone celebrated Barbie, and Martin Scorsese brought Robert De Niro back. There was also a lot of déjà vu in politics and sport – some of which we would have liked to have done without. We look back on a tough year – and are already thinking about what could happen in 2024
By Maik Brüggemeyer, Birgit Fuß, Jan Jekal, Tobi Müller, Sassan Niasseri, Robert Rotifer, Philipp Selldorf, Dr. Dr. Peter Ullrich, Peter Unfried, Arne Willander, Sebastian Zabel, Jürgen Ziemer and Jenni Zylka
The albums of the year
Chosen by the critics of ROLLING STONE: the 50 records of the year.
PLUS: the readers’ charts and our personal best lists for 2023
The History of Queer Pop
Our album of the year follows a long tradition. The story that connects pop music and queer emancipation, from ragtime to Anohni, lasts a hundred years now. And once again, the places where this connection can be created and lived again and again are as endangered as they are dangerous
By Jens Balzer
Wim Wenders
The director talks to ROLLING STONE about his love for Tokyo, quiet places, “Tatort” episodes that drive you to despair, and his new film “Perfect Days”
By Maik Brüggemeyer
The Mix
Joan Baez
The icon of the protest song looks back: Joan Baez on the new film about her life and her long battle with panic attacks
By Birgit Fuss
Marika Hackman
The British songwriter combines romance, expressive electronics and industrial sounds on her cinematic new album
By Max Gösche
HISTORY: Lennon/Ono
40 years ago, “Milk And Honey” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono was released with songs Lennon recorded in 1980
By Arne Willander
Q&A: Trevor Horn
The ’80s super producer on the inspiration of Kraftwerk and his work for ABC and Yes
By Ralf Niemczyk
Harp
Eleven years after Midlake, Tim Smith releases his first quasi-solo album: As harp, the Texan sings about old England
By Jörn Schlüter
“Priscilla”
In her new film Priscilla, Sofia Coppola shows a side of Elvis Presley we haven’t seen before
By Brian Hiatt
PLUS
Shane MacGowan, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Mountain Goats and several more
Reviews
MUSIC
News from Sleater-Kinney and 75 other reviews
RS GUIDE: Simon & Garfunkel
Arne Willander on the great work of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
FILM, SERIES & LITERATURE
“Girl You Know It’s True” and 18 other reviews
Playlist: Rare Trax in January
Best of 2023
Bonnie “Prince” Billy “Crazy Blue Bells”
After excursions with Bill Callahan and Matt Sweeney, Will Oldham has once again created an album that…
psychedelic shimmering folk ballads like this one stand out from his gigantic work.
Charlotte Brandi “Vienna”
It’s hard to choose something that represents Brandi’s “To the Nightmare” – there are so many great songs on this record! But “Vienna” is perhaps the funniest, and also the poppiest.
Iris DeMent “The Sacred Now”
On “Workin’ On A World” DeMent once again unfolds a great Americana narrative. “The Sacred Now” is an ode to the power of dreams, community and transience.
Rufus Wainwright “Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)”
For his great covers album “Folkocracy”, Wainwright interpreted this classic by The Mamas & The Papas with support from Susanna Hofs, Chris Stills and Sheryl Crow.
Dexy’s “I’m Going To Get Free”
On the first album with new Dexys pieces since the masterful “One Day I’m Going To Soar” (2012), Kevin Rowland celebrates femininity and frees himself (and us) from hardened images of masculinity.
Margaret Glaspy “Act Natural”
An irresistibly catchy, blues-infused rock song from Glaspy’s wonderful album Echo The Diamond, reminiscent of Lucinda Williams, Matthew Sweet and early Alanis Morissette.
Tristan Brusch “Baggersee”
Brusch’s “Am Wahn” is undoubtedly one of the best German albums of 2023. “Baggersee” shows the romantic at the height of his red wine-heavy ballad art. A reminder of happiness in the face of death.