Olivia Rodrigo, Extreme, The Beatles, Anya Van Rose earn Canton Rep 2023 music honors

2023 undoubtedly was The Year of Taylor Swift.

She was everywhere. On stage. On social media. On radio. On T-shirts. And in the skyboxes of NFL stadiums watching her boyfriend, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Her monumental year was capped off by making the cover of Time magazine as its Person of the Year.

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A testament to her influence was that it didn't evade a 53-year-old rock and roll dad.

My teenage daughter thrust me into the world of Tay Tay, at first unwillingly as we listened to the pop music icon's new album "Midnights" on a trip to Cedar Point last year.

The introduction to all things Taylor culminated when I attended her summertime spectacle of a concert in Pittsburgh. Wow. Wow. Wow. Regardless of the musical genre, it was the concert event of my life. The fans. The performance. The aura of Swift. The seismic vibrations she induced within the sports stadium. The memories created with my daughter. All of it was fantastic while demonstrating the power of live music in a digitally obsessed society.

But for me and the rest of the sonic universe, 2023 was about far more than a singular artist, even one as massively popular as Swift. Music always is and always has been a melting pot of tastes and styles regardless of the historical juncture or pivot point.

This year was no different, and to illustrate the point, here's a look at 2023 in music based on what appealed to this entertainment journalist.

Hello, Dad, meet Olivia Rodrigo

Talk about coming full circle. My 18-year-old daughter truly turned me on to new music for the first time in the form of Olivia Rodrigo.

Rodrigo's sophomore album, "GUTS" is unapologetically in heavy rotation in my audio shuffle. Guitar power and thundering melodies are awash in school girl sass and attitude.

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Jam-packed with pop song prizes like "all-american bitch," "bad idea right?," "vampire" and "get him back!," I reveled in the discovery of modern pop music with rock 'n' roll fire.

Macy Gray showcases soul, funk and pop on superb new album

Making a big splash in pop music in 2000 and 2001, Stark County native Macy Gray rode a wave of success.

The whirlwind of stardom included a performance on "Saturday Night Live," a Calvin Klein modeling campaign, meeting and chatting with icons Elton John and David Bowie, selling millions of records and dominating radio with the colossal hit song, "I Try."

Several albums have followed, but none of them caught fire or charted another big song, which is a bit perplexing given her distinctive voice and catalog of songs brimming with hooks and feeling.

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Macy hasn't stopped, though, and her musical drive is unwavering. Released in February, "The Reset" is among the finest albums she's recorded, this one a mix of styles, from the orchestral gleam of "You Got Away" to the societal observations of "America" to the anthematic joy of "Every Night."

Macy's recent concert at The Kent Stage was just as inspired. The songstress was on key and on point both vocally and with her spirited stage presentation. Praising her home state of Ohio repeatedly and celebrating her mother's birthday, Gray was well received by an appreciative crowd as she sprinkled in a medley of new material with a set list chronicling her career.

Yes, Bono has a son, and he makes good music

Following in the footsteps of an iconic rock star father is a daunting and often thankless endeavor.

Ask Julian Lennon, Wolfgang Van Halen, Jakob Dylan and Frances Bean Cobain.

U2 frontman Bono's 24-year-old son, Elijah Hewson, has ventured into music with aplomb on the 2023 album "Cuts & Bruises," a follow-up to Inhaler's 2021 debut release, "It Won't Always Be Like This."

Hewson and his bandmates strike an atmospheric, pulsating and tuneful melding of indie, alt and pop rock. Meanwhile, Hewson's vocals undeniably exude Bono's DNA on songs like "If You're Ever Gonna Break My Heart" without losing individuality, his voice soulful and pitch pristine.

Other standout tracks include the sprightly and soaring, "So Far So Good," the singalong anthem, "These Are The Days," the dreamscape harmonies and hipster cool of "Just To Keep You Satisfied," and the '80s pop charm of "Love Will Get You There."

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From the hair band crypt: Extreme shimmers and bangs with 'SIX'

A former unabashed fan of the hair bands of the '80s and early '90s, I've always believed Extreme transcended the subgenre with its diverse and eclectic range of rock.

And Extreme's 2023 release, "SIX" makes the point emphatically. Chock-full of both bangers and mellower songs, the 12-track album is an artful fusion of Nuno Bettencourt's guitar mastery and Gary Cherone's pliable yet powerful vocals.

Jet-fuel rockers include "Rise," "Rebel" and "Banshee." Acoustic-accented beauties dial down the metal but not the passion while Cherone and Bettencourt's vocals pair with exquisite harmony on "Small Town Beautiful," "Other Side of the Rainbow" and "Hurricane."

John Lennon reborn in 2023 with 'Now And Then'

The release of the final new Beatles song "Now And Then" in 2023 was met with both intrigue and skepticism.

But regardless of how the song was cobbled together and aided by technology, it's a gem. Does it rank as an all-time Fab Four classic? No, I won't argue that. However, it poignantly captures the depth of character in Lennon's voice. Arranged on a bed of Paul McCartney's soft guitar strumming and piano playing, "Now And Then" embodies a subdued majesty unique to the iconic band.

The Rolling Stones get angry

Roaring out of the gate on the 2023 album, "Hackney Diamonds," Keith Richards and Mick Jagger defy age on the song "Angry" with a classic combo of guitar crunch and snarling vocals. Equally fiery is "Bite My Head Off," while "Driving Me Too Hard" showcases the legendary band's gift for memorable melody.

Foo Fighters are music marvel

Nearly a dozen albums into the Foo Fighters' career, frontman Dave Grohl's musical story still sounds miraculous.

Not only did he survive the emotional trauma of Kurt Cobain's death in 1994, but he's flourished as a songwriter while establishing himself as a bona fide rock star of his own making.

Nowhere is this more evident than on the Foo Fighter's 2023 release, "But Here We Are."

From the opening tracks, "Rescued" and "Under You," Grohl sings and plays guitar with an urgency and vigor belying his status as an elder statesman of classic and alternative rock. "Beyond Me" alternates between quiet piano and ascendant chorus, showcasing Grohl's songwriting versatility and matured musicianship.

Songs like "Hearing Voices" and "The Glass" maintain a consistency of excellence throughout the 10-track release. "Nothing At All," meanwhile, builds from a relaxed, low-key verse to a full-throated chorus with Grohl at his best when he unleashes rock 'n' roll fury.

New music from Guns N' Roses

"Perhaps," a "Chinese Democracy" outtake updated with contributions from founding G N' R members Slash and Duff McKagan, was a surprise addition to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band's catalog.

Piano-rich and mid-tempo, the song mined the vintage studio vocals of Axl Rose for a mature and evolved sound unlike anything previously released by the hard rock luminaries.

Released as the single's B side, "The General" is more of a curiosity than a stellar track. Featuring Roses' desperate howls amid eerie instrumentation, the song is worth a listen but sounds more in stride with Axl's solo experimentation than a true descendant of the original lineup.

Don't sleep on Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan dazzles on this hybrid of folk punk and varied indie rock.

The album "Lighthouse" finds the Guns N' Roses bass player curating and finessing a batch of songs on what is possibly his finest solo release to date while singing with authenticity and grit.

Long ago expelling the demons of alcoholism and drug abuse, the likeable McKagan sings both with uplift and insight on songs like "Longfeather," "I Don't Know," "Forgiveness," "Fallen Ones" and "Hope."

"Just Another Shakedown" aptly honors McKagan's punk rock, Seattle music scene roots with a defiant, high-velocity blast of music destined for live performance in the small, sweaty clubs where Duff clawed his way out of obscurity to stardom.

Anya Van Rose fulfills promise on 'Lucky Stars'

Stark County-based singer-songwriter Anya Van Rose left fans craving more original music after her 2020 EP teased at her potential.

Van Rose doesn't disappoint on her first full-length studio release, "Lucky Stars," which takes listeners on a dreamy, 11-track ride of what she describes as "bubblegrunge." Boasting well-executed songcraft, "Lucky Stars" showcases Van Rose's angelic, alt girl vocals as she wields a guitar.

"What It Means" is a hushed delight of a song reminiscent of Mazzy Star. The title track is a brilliant rocker, burning slow then pushing hard with fuzzy and gutsy guitar riffing. "Tangerine" is a sweetheart of a tune, introduced with a guitar groove worthy of an Alice In Chains or Nirvana song before Van Rose illuminates it with her lush vocals.

"Apology" is lighter on the bubble and heavier on the grunge, featuring brooding vocals and guitar grime imported from early-'90s Seattle with glorious effect.

Less is more with Brian Lisik's 'Nu Wreckard'

Veteran Northeast Ohio rocker Brian Lisik bestowed his fans with a scrappy, seven-song album that proves less can be more.

Featuring his band Hard Legs, the 2023 release is both raw and full of heart with just the right amount of studio varnish.

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Stacked solid from top to bottom, "Nu Wreckard" charges full rhino with "Billy the Kid" and "Blood In Their Eyes" before deviating midway with the merrily funky "Better Than Nothing." The uncharacteristic track features the steamy saxophone work of Ian Early while channeling the retro vibe of a theme song for a 1970s cop drama. Think "Kojak" meets "The Streets of San Francisco" with rock 'n' roll edge.

Don't fret, hardcore fans, because Lisik captures his signature sound on the guitar-jangly bullet of a track, "Anything," his voice never more beautifully ragged.

Ripe rock from Urban Honey

Few bands lay down a groove as deep and dirty as the Stark County-based Urban Honey.

On their second EP, "Fresh Fruit," the foursome is especially potent on "Hopeless Refugee," which features the sass and soul of Christine Reichard's singing and the bouncy, rhythmic bass work of Blake Oaks.

Setting the song fully ablaze are the ferocious guitar licks of Hunter Schwenk and the trip-hammer drumbeats of Joshua Campian.

Most mesmerizing of the four tracks is the jazz and blues rock romp, "Manic," a stew of sound enhanced with Matt Corey's saxophone prowess, Schwenk's menacing riffs and Reichard's towering vocals.

Chris Wintrip releases jazzy joy ride

Seasoned local musician Chris Wintrip jazzes up the year in music with the smooth instrumental, "Ruby."

Classic, easy listening and joyful, the three-minute song features Wintrip on guitar and a contribution from the Grammy-winning Bob James. Throwback keyboards, slick saxophone and bottom-heavy bass complete the toe-tapping smile of a song.

No wonder it's received radio airplay in around 20 U.S. markets, Wintrip shares.

From Northeast Ohio to Nashville

2023 was a year of highs for The Shootouts.

Based in Northeast Ohio and featuring Stark County resident Ryan Humbert, the honky-tonk, Western swing group released the album, "Stampede" and performed at the Grand Ole Opry while achieving continued Americana radio chart success.

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Prized songs on the band's third album include "Anywhere But Here," where Humbert's vocals sound earnest and warm. "Angels' Work" is a poignant, well-crafted mid-tempo ballad complemented by handsome fiddle playing and twangy guitar.

Humbert and The Shootouts give a master class in cover songs on "I'll Never Need Anyone More" by the late Michael Stanley. The arrangement sounds first-time fresh. And Humbert's sincere singing is worthy of a wink of approval from Stanley's perch in the rock 'n' roll clouds.

But where the band may excel most is on giddy-up country rockers like "Run for Cover," a festive jam highlighted by robust saxophone and Chuck Berry-era guitar playing.

Reach Ed at [email protected]. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Best music 2023: Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Extreme, Guns N' Roses