Tons of great music came out this year — I probably could have done a Top 15 or 20 if I had the time, to be honest. It was actually tough for me to pick the last few albums that would make the cut (definitely check out the very strong Honorable Mention section below). That said, my top 3 albums this year were pretty clear. If my Spotify Wrapped had captured my non-toddler-listening habits, those would have been far and away my most-listened to in 2023.
So without further ado, here’s my top 10 Albums of 2023. Spotify playlist can be found here.
10. ROOM – ONUKA
The Ukrainian electro-folk group ONUKA (which translates to “granddaughter” ) released a beautiful, haunting album this year. As you might expect, the influence of the war permeates the record literally from start to finish, with front woman Nata Zhyzhchenko opening and closing it by reading poetry she wrote during the initial phase of Russia’s 2022 invasion. It’s more somber and not quite as striking or catchy as their brilliant 2021 record KOLIR, but it’s still an impressive display of their ability to deftly combine modern electro-pop and traditional Ukrainian folk influences.
Roaring out of the gate this summer with a wonderfully retro, heavily 90s-alt and post-grunge-influenced sound, Bully’s fourth studio album Lucky For You, moreso than maybe any other album this year, is just a vibe. Alicia Bognanno’s fierce, rasping, searing vocals backed by a wall of fuzzed-out, distorted guitars will get you amped up for whatever it is you need to do. This one is best enjoyed in your car with an open road and the speakers turned up as loud as you can handle.
Without a doubt the dark horse of this year’s top 10, I stumbled across this offbeat London-based indie pop quartet quite by accident on a random Spotify playlist (I think it was “High In Brighton”) and was hooked. Definitely weird (opening track is a fake infomercial voiceover…) and super fun (and hilarious! – see “I Just Died”), The Secret To Life is a well crafted and impressive debut.
This supergroup project of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridges, and Lucy Dacus–three of the best indie songwriters out there at the moment–came in with some high expectations for their debut LP given their sterling credentials…and they smashed them. This is pretty simply some of the best-written, most authentic collection of songs I’ve heard this year. This trio show off their insane talent as they tag team songwriting duties and lead vocals on various tracks while layering some ridiculous harmonies (“Without You Without Them” is a hell of an opener). “$20”, “True Bue”, and “Not Strong Enough” are songs so strong and timeless I’ll almost certainly still be digging them 20 years from now.
6. Chronicles of a Diamond – Black Pumas
This genre-bending Austin, TX-based duo wasn’t on my radar until this year (I somehow missed their critically acclaimed debut in 2019 and Grammy nom in 2020), but they blew me away with their sophomore release. Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada expertly mix together a potent blend of psychedelic rock, R&B, soul, and funk on this album that doesn’t sound quite like anything else out there. “Ice Cream (Pay Phone)” is an irresistible bop, I am obsessed with the keys on “Mrs. Postman,” and the groove on “Gemini Sun” is killer…but there honestly isn’t a bad track on here.
I somehow never really got into The Maine before now, but I stumbled upon their latest release (their 9th studio album!) and absolutely fell in love with it. Their catalog spans an impressive array of different genres, but I think I like their current iteration best. These are perfectly crafted, super-catchy pop songs honed to a glossy sheen with expert level production choices. “blame” and “dose no. 2” are some of my favorite tracks of the year.
4. First Two Pages of Frankenstein / Laugh Track – The National
The National’s surprise double album (recorded during the same session but released just 5 months apart this year) is an ambitious and intriguing 23-song effort. Frankenstein is more somber and introspective, while Laugh Track livens things up (at least by The National’s standards!) and both contain some absolutely classic National tracks. Could they probably have just picked the best 13 songs and combined it into one album? Sure. But I won’t complain about getting more music from these guys.
With her sophomore release, Olivia Rodrigo proves that her 2021 debut SOUR wasn’t just a flash of brilliance. This 20-year-old is here to stay and is making some of the best pop music out there right now, taking some really bold swings on this album while showcasing seriously impressive songwriting chops. Whether it’s the huge hooks, screeching Tom Morello-inspired guitar solo, and flawless tongue-in-cheek vocal delivery that make “bad idea right?” probably the best pop song of the 2020s so far (I literally laughed out loud the first time I heard it), or the way she leans all the way into the conflicted double meaning of the title on “get him back!”… basically every idea she tries hits. One of the most fun albums of the year for sure.
If you’d said to me last year “Imagine if the Jonas Brothers did yacht rock for their next album!” I don’t think I’d be too jazzed about it. But somehow…it works. Apparently inspired by the music their dad used to listen to when they were kids, the Jo Bros have put together a collection of some incredibly catchy tunes with some stellar production that pay homage to that very specific 1970s/80s sub-genre while managing to still sound fresh and modern. This is one I had basically on repeat for the first half of this year. “Wings” is straight up genius.
1. So Much (For) Stardust – Fall Out Boy
My most-anticipated album of the year — ok let’s be honest, probably of the decade so far — and it delivered. Patrick, Pete, Joe, and Andy emerged from the pandemic with their first new album in 5 years and what I think is one of the finest in their entire discography. After exploring more experimental/pop sounds on Mania and American Beauty/American Psycho, FOB harkens back to their roots by bringing back a heavier, almost retro pop punk sound. That said, it’s never boring — Patrick still insists on plenty of epic, cinematic flourishes (“Heaven, Iowa”, “I Am My Own Muse”) and Pete manages to squeeze in not one but TWO spoken word interludes, including a clip from an obscure Ethan Hawke movie (“The Pink Seashell”). It’s everything a Fall Out Boy album should be.
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Honorable Mention:
ATTA – Sigur Ros – A gorgeous, stunning return from the Icelandic veterans, and recording it with the London Contemporary Orchestra was a brilliant decision.
EVERGREEN – PVRIS – Bold, brash, and a ton of fun.
Endless Summer Vacation – Miley Cyrus – Hell of a breakup album. Miley has proven she’s got legit staying power.
Not At This Time – ANIMA! – Love everything this duo puts out. This one got a ton of listens.
The Valley of Vision (EP) – Manchester Orchestra – Amazing concept project and excellent execution. “The Way” is one of the best songs they’ve ever released.
Is This All We Are? – Vistas – More uneven than their previous efforts, but still a solid album.
extra life (EP) – crushed – Just a super cool, fuzzy, indie album to put on and play all the way through.
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Top 40 Songs of 2023 (Spotify playlist)
- bad idea right? – Olivia Rodrigo
- Heaven, Iowa – Fall Out Boy
- The Way – Manchester Orchestra
- Ice Cream (Pay Phone) – Black Pumas
- Wings – Jonas Brothers
- An Old Tune – ANIMA!
- Tropic Morning News – The National
- $20 – boygenius
- delirious – swim school
- Flowers – Miley Cyrus
- Days Move Slow – Bully
- High In Brighton – FIZZ
- blame – The Maine
- SAMA – ONUKA
- Making It Through – Angie McMahon
- Devotion – Arlo Parks
- Weird Goodbyes (feat. Bon Iver) – The National
- Modern Girl – Bleachers
- True Blue – boygenius
- Love From The Other Side – Fall Out Boy
- Blóðberg – Sigur Ros
- GODDESS – PVRIS
- Welcome To The DCC – Nothing But Thieves
- milksugar – crushed
- I Am My Own Muse – Fall Out Boy
- Rice – Young Fathers
- Spirit 2.0 – Sampha
- Now And Then – The Beatles
- get him back! – Olivia Rodrigo
- You Can Be Mean – Indigo De Souza
- The Alcott (feat. Taylor Swift) – The National
- Run – Maisie Peters
- Bang Bang – Momma
- Nosebleeds – MisterWives
- Medal – Emily King
- New York – The Kills
- Last Together – Vistas
- Honey – Samia
- This Is Why – Paramore
- Egoland – Rodrigo y Gabriela
Alex's Top Albums 