The first three months of 2023 are gone, and Taylor Ruckle has returned.  We both think that this past quarter was a particularly strong one for new music.  Since we had this conversation, I have listened to the albums of Taylor's top five that I hadn't gotten to yet, and of those, the Screaming Females album was my favorite.  That said, I like them all to some degree, and they're all definitely worth your time.

Taylor's interview with Quasi.

Taylor's albums

Algiers - Shook
Sunny War - Anarchist Gospel
James Brandon Lewis - Eye of I
Screaming Females - Desire Pathway
Yves Tumor - Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)

Mike's albums 

Meet Me @ The Altar - Past // Present // Future
Annabel Lee - Mother's Hammer
Vadim Taver - Vadim Taver
Dazy - Otherbody
Brenda Carsey - Cognizance