This list is an ordered ranking of what I consider, as of the end of 2023, my favorite projects released in that year. This list is by no means some claim of “objective quality”—I purely determined the order based on what I enjoyed the most. I begin this list by naming my #11–30, and I have full write-ups for my Top 10 albums of 2023. I hope you enjoy what I put together!
#11-30
#10: Wallsocket by underscores
I listened to Wallsocket for the first time while driving home from work, and I immediately fell in love with its eclectic and zany aesthetic. Like the aforementioned 10,000 gecs, Wallsocket feels like a natural evolution of hyperpop, fusing the sugary frenzy of the subgenre with electronica, alternative rock, and folk music. Wallsocket intentionally operates in extremes, not only in its sound but also in its lyrics, which center around “horseshoe theory” in an apolitical context. The more I listened to Wallsocket in 2023, the more I could peel back its sonic and lyrical layers, leading to it becoming one of my most replayed albums of the year.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Locals (Girls like us)” with gabby start
2. “Geez louise” with henhouse!
3. “Old money bitch”
#9: Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) by Yves Tumor
Speaking of genre-bending music, Yves Tumor’s Praise a Lord… was one of my comfort albums throughout 2023. Pitchfork describes this project as “where Loveless [My Bloody Valentine] meets Purple Rain [Prince],” high praise that I can fully get behind. Yves Tumor’s vocals are simultaneously expressive and fluid, and the rock star skillfully combines post-punk with psychedelic rock on this project. Prolific sound engineer Noah Goldstein also comes through with some of the cleanest mixing you will hear on an album in 2023. Though Praise a Lord… wears its influences on its sleeve, Yves Tumor’s expert musicianship and surreal lyricism nevertheless come together to produce a distinctive and enthralling listening experience.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Heaven Surrounds Us Like a Hood”
2. “Echolalia”
3. “Ebony Eye”
#8: Weathervanes by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
Though Jason Isbell’s impassioned vocal performances and the 400 Unit’s organic backing instrumentation contribute to Weathervanes’ quality, what truly sells this album is Isbell’s deeply personal and brutally honest lyricism. I relate to many of Isbell’s complicated feelings on the manifold topics he explores in Weathervanes, whether it’s falling out with a friend (“When We Were Close”), how time affects a relationship (“Strawberry Woman”), and even school shootings (“Save the World”—as a teacher, this song REALLY hits hard). At just over an hour in length, Weathervanes gives Isbell plenty of opportunity to delve deep into his subject matter without overstaying its welcome. A challenging yet incisive listen, Weathervanes only further solidifies Isbell’s status as one of country music’s greatest living songwriters.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “If You Insist”
2. “Save the World”
3. “When We Were Close”
#7: Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey
While I do not consider Did you know… my favorite Lana Del Rey album (Norman Fucking Rockwell! still holds that honor), I would argue that it is the singer-songwriter’s most personal and emotionally vulnerable project to date. Del Rey approaches some of her densest subject matter yet with a lot of tact, the best example being the critically lauded “A&W,” a reflection on American perceptions of female promiscuity as well as rape culture. Del Rey also has excellent chemistry with many of her collaborators on this album, especially Father John Misty and Bleachers. Although some weaker tracks towards the end of the album drag it down a bit, Did you know… still has some of Lana’s most well-written and fully realized songs to date, making it a standout in her discography.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Let the Light In” feat. Father John Misty
2. “A&W”
3. “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd”
#6: Heaven knows by PinkPantheress
As a fan of PinkPantheress from pretty much the very beginning of her career, witnessing her mainstream breakout in 2023 was a remarkable experience. Heaven knows takes what made PinkPantheress’ earlier material exceptional—her synthesis of ’00s garage music with modern bedroom pop, characteristic pitched-up vocal melodies, and instantly memorable hooks—and uses a major-label budget to fully flesh out the singer’s pop ambitions. Heaven knows, from the big singles to the deep cuts, does not have a single skip, an especially impressive feat considering that PinkPantheress only started officially releasing music this decade. I hope that in future projects, PinkPantheress continues to expand her sound and take more sonic risks, because her experimentation on Heaven knows almost always succeeds.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Capable of love”
2. “Mosquito”
3. “The aisle”
#5: SCARING THE HOES by JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown
As a music listener/writer, I try to avoid having guilty pleasures: songs or albums that I feel embarrassed to admit I enjoy. If I am being totally honest, part of me feels uncomfortable putting this album on this list (its title certainly does not help matters!), but that discomfort instantly goes away as soon as I listen to it again. SCARING THE HOES is not for the faint of heart, as JPEGMafia’s explosive beats and the two rappers’ internet-savvy bars make for one of the most intense listening experiences of 2023. Simultaneously, this chaos is what makes SCARING THE HOES amazing, because amidst the warped samples and occasionally questionable mixing choices, there exists a brilliant collaboration album between two rappers in their prime.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Steppa Pig”
2. “Kingdom Hearts Key” feat. redveil
3. “Burfict!”
#4: Javelin by Sufjan Stevens
Just like with Wallsocket, my initial Javelin took place while driving home from work, but instead of energizing me like Wallsocket did, this album devastated me within the first two songs. After discovering later that evening that Javelin serves as Sufjan Stevens' eulogy to his recently deceased partner, I found a deeper resonance in the pain he expresses through his lyrics. If I could use one word to describe Javelin, it would be heavenly, for Stevens masterfully employs Christian imagery and choir vocals to elevate his grief. Stevens’ orchestration, which blends the chamber pop grandeur of Illinois, electronic tinges of The Age of Adz, and gentle acoustics of Carrie & Lowell, creates one of the most mesmerizing sonic atmospheres of any album I heard in 2023.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “So You Are Tired”
2. “Shit Talk”
3. “A Running Start”
#3: Desire, I Want to Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek
One of my most anticipated albums of 2023, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You easily lives up to the high expectations I had for Caroline Polachek as a longtime fan of hers. On this album, Polachek dabbles in numerous genres, including ’80s synthpop (“Welcome to My Island”), flamenco (“Sunset”), UK garage (“I Believe”), folktronica (“Blood and Butter”), and even Vespertine-era art pop (“Billions”), but she nails all of them, which serves as a testament to her songwriting talent. Polachek also has one of the most versatile soprano voices out of any pop star working today, as she can switch from her powerful falsetto to her resonant chest voice with ease. If you enjoy pop music, I cannot recommend this album enough!
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Billions”
2. “Sunset”
3. “I Believe”
#2: Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? by McKinley Dixon
From the moment I first played Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? while walking outside on a warm summer day, I knew that it had a strong chance of becoming my favorite rap album of 2023. With poetic lyricism and insightful commentary about the human experience, McKinley Dixon’s writing channels that of Toni Morrison, whose works influenced the title and subject matter of this album. I also adore the lush jazz instrumentation, featuring both live and trap drums, lively brass, and rich basslines. Both easily accessible and intimately layered, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? proves that jazz rap has plenty of room for innovation in the ‘20s.
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Sun, I Rise” feat. Angelica Garcia
2. “Run, Run, Run”
3. “Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?” feat. Ms. Jaylin Brown
Great Songs from Albums That Did Not Make This List
- “Oral” by Björk & Rosalía
- “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius
- “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” by Chappell Roan
- “I Been Young” by George Clanton
- “Younger & Dumber” by Indigo De Souza
- “Only Love Can Save Us Now” by Kesha
- “From the Start” by Laufey
- “My Love Mine All Mine” by Mitski
- “Escapism.” by RAYE feat. 070 Shake
- “SkeeYee” by Sexyy Red
- “Sorry Not Sorry” by Tyler, the Creator
- “How Does It Make You Feel” by Victoria Monét
#1: Fountain Baby by Amaarae
Before 2023, I liked Amaarae’s afrobeats-R&B fusion, but I did not give her much consideration outside of a select couple of tracks. As a result, Fountain Baby’s sharp increase in quality from the singer’s previous output completely caught me off guard, and it quickly became my most streamed album released last year. This project almost feels like a cheat code, because it contains many of my favorite musical qualities: diverse and hard-hitting instrumentals; unique and unforgettable vocal melodies; and detailed lyrics, which in this case, explore queer sexuality. I had so much fun listening to Fountain Baby throughout 2023, and as soon as it came time to put together this list, I knew that this would be the album to beat!
Three Favorite Songs
1. “Sociopathic Dance Queen”
2. “Wasted Eyes”
3. “Disguise”
Thank you for taking the time to read this list! Please feel free to post your thoughts or share your own favorite music from 2023 in the comments.
