2023 was a year of musical genre blending, rock revivals, TikTok sensations, dynamic live shows, and awesome collaborations. This list is a labor of love and we feel these artists poured their heart and soul into their records. Check out our top 10 albums below.
10. Thee Oh Sees – Intercepted Message
Intercepted Message is “Early grade garage pop meets proto-synth punk suicide repellant” says the band and we agree.
9. Boygenius – The Record
Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus devote their debut record to their singular bond. Each amplifies the other’s songwriting, enriches the detail, and heightens the emotion.
8. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – V
The album was influenced by “West Coast AOR, classic hits, weirdo pop and Hawaiian Hapa-haole music”.
7. Holy Wave – Five Of Cups
A dreamy indie record that summons the inner depths of your soul.
6. Fever Ray – Radical Romantics
Radical Romantics is a richly detailed album that renders the search for love and peace as something both sensual and alien.
5. Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation
A stunning pop record that checks all the marks and leaves you longing for your own endless summer vacation.
4. Gorillaz – Cracker Island
Cracker Island is a cohesive album that blends alternative rock with elements of trip-hop and electronic music and showcases star power.
3. Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine
My Soft Machine is built on a bed of trauma and love and the end result is a masterpiece.
2. Queens Of The Stone Age – In Times New Roman…
Josh Hommes openly pours his heart out and confronts his recent turmoils on this beautifully produced album. In Times New Roman is their best record yet.
1. Metallica – 72 Seasons
72 Seasons is a thrash metal masterpiece and a whirlwind of emotions and experiences play out throughout the record. The band is in top form here and puts out an absolute masterpiece of modern day heavy metal.