Makin Waves Top 10 2023 NJ Indie Albums

By Bob Makin

originally published: 12/25/2023

Here are the top 10 albums by New Jersey indie artists, according to Makin Waves:

Jackson Pines, “Pine Barrens, Volume One” — With Makin Waves Album of the Year Award-winning “Pine Barrens, Volume One,” Jackson Pines concentrate on the traditional music of the Jersey Pinelands dating as far back as 1700. Yet, their full-on live energy remains intact. Click here for more.

Renee Maskin, “Shimmer” — “Shimmer” is the 2023 Makin Waves Female Artist of the Year Award winner’s masterpiece. The Mint 400 recording artist added a lot hyphens to her singer-songwriter-guitarist tag, including producer and multi-instrumentalist. Click here for more.

Bruce Tunkel, “sixtyandthensome” — Bruce Tunkel has released 10 solo LPs, the latest of which, “sixtyandthensome,” may be his best. I said that about him before, but while Bruce may be getting older, he’s also getting even better as a singer, songwriter, musician and producer. Click here for more.

Fake Pockets, “Reverie” —Another Mint 400 recording act, Fake Pockets’ penchant for power-pop continues on the six-song “Reverie,” the 2023 Makin Waves Award winner for Best EP in an expressive but edgy mash up of Natalie Merchant, The Pixies and Weezer. Click here for more.

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Cranston Dean, “Northern Town” — Fans of classic and roots rock will love all six of Cranston’s albums, but “Northern Town” may be his best yet. Whether mining a New Orleans vibe or compassionately waxing political, “Northern Town” is a great place to visit. Click here for more.

The Well Wish, “Promises” — Featuring Makin Waves Best Vocalist Award Winner Anya Angeloni, The Well Wish’s long-awaited EP is a five-song affair of the heart that chronicles a promise of one kind or another, as well as the complicated intricacies of relationships. Click here for more.

Dogs in a Pile, “Bloom” — Fans of 311, O.A.R. and Slightly Stoopid will dig the reggae-tinged jam ‘n’ groove of Dogs in a Pile’s sophomore LP, just as the Dog Pound delighted in a maturation of songwriting and harmonies that lived up to the LP’s title and matched the 2023 Makin Waves Band of the Year’s stellar musicianship. Click here for more.

Juliana Frangella, “Intrusive Thoughts” — If Taylor Swift was haunted by the ghost of Warren Zevon, it might sound like the empathetic reliability, witty wordplay and skewering sarcasm of this 10-song full-length debut masterfully crafted by Makin Waves Producer of the Year Mike Montrey. Click here for more.

San Tropez, “Maybe Tomorrow” — This full-length Mint 400 debut from a local supergroup featuring members of some of New Brunswick’s best ‘90s bands is the epitome of why artists never should give up on their art. The 10-song “Maybe Tomorrow,” which converges the San Tropez’s roots in shoegaze, dream pop, and indie rock, was reissued this summer by Shore Dive Records. Click here for more.

The Vaughns, “Egg Everything” — On the eve of their 10th anniversary as a band, The Vaughns released their full-length debut for Equal Vision Records. “Egg Everything” follows the 2021 EP, “rom-coms + take-out,” their first venture for the Albany-based indie, home to Coheed and Cambria. Click here for more.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].

About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

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