As another year concludes, I always enjoy pretending I am a major music outlet writer as I piece together my 100 favorite albums of the year. For some reason, this year seemed a lot harder to decide the rankings of albums. I started with around 230 candidates then mellowed it down to 140. From there, I personally selected the first 30 and then put the rest together in a head-to-head gauntlet where I picked one over the other until the list was completed. I then calibrated the list accurately and after days of staring at a spreadsheet and Word document, I was satisfied with my picks. I hope this list welcomes discovery on a multitude of genres and helps you find an album that you may have not heard before this list. In addition, I hope there’s an album on here that you can point at and say “Hey! I loved that album too!” and we can be friends. I understand that we as humans and our trained ears have differing opinions of music and some of the albums I rank may be too high or too low in comparison to your personal music palette, and I respect your disagreements. I have my own palette myself and this is extremely subjective to what I liked this year. I’m not ranking albums based on what I believe is correct, I’m ranking albums by what I liked and disliked, so please take that into account. Any album on this list is enjoyable in its own right and own regard, and I recommend if something on this list interests you, give it a chance!

Honorable Mentions

In the last few years of doing these lists, the honorable mentions have focused on albums that just slightly didn’t make the list, but I thought were still quite notable in their own regards. This year, the honorable mentions list has a larger focus on projects I really enjoyed but didn’t fit the list. This includes EPs, Live Albums, Deluxes of albums released in years prior, and albums with flaws but a selection of fantastic tracks that are still worth a shoutout.

Khruangbin – Live at Sydney Opera House

Khruangbin has been releasing live album splits with fantastic artists who opened with them throughout their Mordechai tour throughout the year, but due to the nature of their music, their jams are cut short by trying to fit on one side of a vinyl record. The Sydney Opera House recording is one of the best live records heard this year. For almost an hour and a half Khruangbin runs through their extensive discography playing some of their best moments elevated by extended solos and interpolations.

Grady Spencer & the Work – Live from Tannahill’s Tavern

Grady Spencer is a performer. This live record is such a charming run-through of him and his band’s best tracks with fantastic energy from the crowd. It’s amazing to see his live performances live up to the expectations set with this album

Maruja – Knocknarea

Maruja makes a name for themselves with Jazz-inspired Post-Rock. This short 4-track EP leaves me hungry for more and excited for what’s to come.

Ovrkast. – Reset!

Ovrkast takes less than 12 minutes to prove himself not only as a producer but as an engaging lyricist as well. The songs are short and so catchy that it’s easy to loop over and over. He also produced some songs for Drake’s FATD deluxe after this came out, so I am excited to see his growth in the music world.

salute – Shield

Some of my favorite dance songs of the year are on this EP. Peach is my most listened-to song of 2023 and the other three tracks are just as infectious.

Noah Kahan – Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)

The Noah Kahan hype is real. I was late to the Stick Season party for last year’s list, but the album would’ve made my list. The We’ll All Be Here Forever deluxe features six new songs and a beautiful expansion of the standout closer in The View Between Villages. Stomp and Holler isn’t for everyone, but it’s for me.

Nia Archives – Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against tha Wall

Imagine raging in the car to Baianá and feeling sentimental to So Tell Me.. in the same 17 timespan because that’s how I was listening to this EP by Jungle up-and-comer Nia Archives.

The Alchemist – Flying High (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)

The first Flying High features some Al regulars rapping over some beautiful Drumless beat with Alchemist keeping the last verse of the EP to himself. In the second part, Alchemist finds himself rediscovering his rapping abilities and sharing them with the world.

Mipso – Book of Fools

Love it or hate it, the algorithm will eventually steer you towards something you love. Thanks to Andrew Watters and his Spotify algorithm, I was blessed with discovering Bluegrass-outfit Mipso through their track Carolina Rolling By and their album Book of Fools. The album meshes Americana with elements of Indie Folk creating such an undeniably fun and uplifting album.

Jungle – Volcano

Jungle’s first three albums are some of my favorite albums in the past ten years. Every single leading up to their fourth album had been in rotation and I was ready for the entire project. Sadly, the project’s best moments were those singles.

Local Natives – Time Will Wait for No One

This Local Natives album doesn’t break any new ground for the band or contain any of their best material, but it is extremely listenable and enjoyable Indie Pop.

The Wilder Blue – Super Natural

The Brett Cobb-produced Super Natural finds Zane Williams and the band at their highest yet.

Mitski – The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We

Mitski follows up 80s-inspired Laurel Hell with a beautifully poetic Indie Folk-influence record filled with well-crafted songwriting of love and loneliness with songs like Heaven, My Love Mine All Mine, and Star. It’s another strong addition to her impressive catalog.

DeYarmond Edison – Epoch

There is so much to uncover in the DeYarmond Edison box set. From live performances and demos to a remaster of Justin Vernon’s Hazeltons EP. There’s a lot to love, especially the Hazeltons EP which is the earliest variation of the Bon Iver sound.

Peter Gabriel – i/o

I had my albums all ranked and figured out before I gave i/o a chance. The long-awaited album from 80s legend Peter Gabriel features two completely different mixes of the same record for two different moods and times of day. The Bright-Side Mix is a lot larger of a sound and the elements of the music feel more pronounced while the Dark-Side Mix is more pulled-back and subtle. It is a really unique way to craft an album. I recommend listening to the Bright-Side mix in the day and Dark-Side late at night.

Zachary’s Top 100 Albums of 2023

100. Veeze – Ganger (Deluxe) [Detroit Trap]

Detroit has made massive waves in Hip-Hop, especially in Trap with artists like Babyface Ray, Icewear Vezzo, and Veeze who comes through with one of the most charming and humorous albums of 2023. Veeze has a delivery that may turn certain listeners off, but his lyrics are chocked full of references and witty one-liners over mellow trap beats creating an album perfect to chill out to while also making you smile.

“I light a joint like Obama kid, get high and twitch like Bronny James”

Try Out: Tony Hawk

99. The Lemon Twigs – Everything Harmony [Soft Rock]

Psychedelic pop band The Lemon Twigs ditch their recent Glam Rock-based sound in favor of classic 70s Soft Rock crafting beautifully written and introspective pop tracks that are so warm and cozy. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here and is instead focused on pulling the best parts of 70s rock without the adult contemporary cheesiness that hurts the songs as a whole.

Try Out: Any Time of Day

98. Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess [Dance-Pop]

I discovered Chappell Roan through Music Coordinator Libby Veatch who loved the tracks Red Wine Supernova and My Kink Is Karma. The Daniel Nigro-produced record is full of witty lines and party anthems crafted for the dance floor. There is a lot of variety on the record with some songs inching closer to Alt-Pop and others almost touching Dance-Punk giving everyone something to enjoy. The album is an extremely solid debut, and I am excited to see her grow as an artist.

Try Out: My Kink Is Karma

97. GOVI – Outsider [Outsider House]

This album is unknown for the most part and it’s a genuine shame because it’s one of my favorite electronic records of the year. GOVI combines Outsider House with elements of Alternative R&B pulling artists like Jim Legxacy and Johnny Yukon and samples from Marvin Gaye building a sonically dense and moody atmosphere.

Try Out: New Life

96. Gabe Lee – Drink the River [Americana]

My discovery of Gabe Lee started at SXSW where I was blown away by his mighty voice in a brief acoustic set. Drink the River is his best record by far. The amount of heart and soul pushed through in the album’s 35 minutes is undeniable and his ability to craft these songs full of sentimental writing is proven time and time again here.

Try Out: Even Jesus Got the Blues

95. Cleo Sol – Heaven / Gold [Neo-Soul]

It seems that Cleo Sol and her husband Inflo love staying busy. Fresh off five albums and an EP from their Neo-Soul group SAULT and all over the surprise Little Simz album NO THANK YOU, Cleo Sol returns with two albums released in back-to-back weeks entitled Heaven and Gold, respectively. Both records were produced entirely by Inflo, the albums work like a double album sharing a similarity in songwriting and style. Heaven has a more laid-back sound with a lot of moodier production through percussion and bass. Gold, on the other hand, is brighter and has a more Gospel-oriented sound. The back end of Gold is really a fantastic handful of songs, especially the powerful Life Will Be. 

Try Out: Life Will Be

94: Beach Fossils – Bunny [Indie Pop]

The first Beach Fossils album of original material in 6 years is another excellent collection of work. It’s a very subdued and pulled-back experience compared to their previous efforts leaving the synths behind and focusing on more jangle pop-inspired guitar riffs. It is very comforting and enjoyable to build a very light and peaceful record throughout the sub-40-minute runtime. I’m just waiting for Beach Bunny to do an album called Fossils now.

Try Out: Don’t Fade Away

93. Tyler Childers – Rustin’ in the Rain [Country]

Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? Was one of the most ambitious albums released by Tyler Childers. Combining 3 different variations of the same album evoking different moods based on the same material was an ambitious but well-crafted concept. Each variation ran for about 36 minutes each. The new full-length Rustin’ in the Rain runs at a tight-knit 28 minutes and leaves the Progressive Country, Gospel, and Soul elements closer in the back focusing on a more traditional Nashville-inspired sound. I think as much as there are a lot of fantastic standouts on the project by the time the album starts picking up, it is already over. I think it is another great piece to his discography and songs like Percheron Mules, and In Your Love are incredible standouts.

Try Out: In Your Love

92. LUCKI – s*x m*ney dr*gs [Trap]

I first discovered LUCKI with the much anticipated Freewave 3 in 2019 while I was recovering from the flu, and I instantly fell in love with his lazy and lethargic flow over these hypnotic and ethereal trap beats from producers like ChaseTheMoney, Cash Cobain, StoopidXool, and shockingly Earl Sweatshirt. With multiple projects after, I’ve felt no project has matched the highs I felt with the entirety of Freewave 3. On s*x m*ney dr*gs, LUCKI pulls from a large pool of producers including Taurus, Cash Cobain, and Tay Keith to name a few crafting an amazing combination of production and vocal performance with LUCKI’s nocturnal flows benefiting the production hand-in-hand.

Try Out: Purple Heart Ski

91: Hayden Pedigo – The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored [American Primitivism]

West Texas instrumentalist and social media star Hayden Pedigo returns with a beautiful guitar-based Americana record that is meditative and hypnotic. Not many artists are crafting American Primitivism and instrumental country records, but Pedigo is keeping the genre alive with purpose.

Try Out: Elsewhere

90. Bully – Lucky for You [Alternative Rock]

On Bully’s fourth record, Alicia Bognanno and co. find themselves crafting 90s-inspired Alt Rock with touches of Alanis Morissette and Natalie Imbruglia that absolutely rocks. From the opening moments with All I Do, you are welcomed to a nostalgic time machine of Grunge that is just so much fun to listen to.

Try Out: All I Do

89. bdrmm – I Don’t Know [Dream Pop]

If you drench an album in reverb and expect me to enjoy it, you’re doing the right thing. bdrmm crafts an atmospheric soundscape while still focusing on keeping different moments engaging and interesting. It’s meticulously crafted and a definite step up from their self-titled debut.

Try Out: Be Careful

88. Being Dead – When Horses Would Run [Indie Rock]

I say this not as a diss, but the current state of Indie Rock is pretty somber a majority of the time, so to hear a record that is unapologetically humorous and playful is like a breath of fresh air. Being Dead brings the weird Austin energy focusing on simple and catchy Surf Rock-inspired Indie to create ear candy. Why not write a song about picnics? Why not write a song about the extinction of buffalos? Why not write a song about shopping for clothes?

Try Out: Last Living Buffalo

87. Teezo Touchdown – How Do You Sleep at Night? [Alt-Pop]

In some parties, Teezo is seen as overrated. In others, he’s changing the landscape of hip-hop without even making rap music himself. He’s already collaborated with huge artists like Drake, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Tyler, the Creator, and more, but there’s not an ounce of Rap on his first major project. Teezo’s best strength is not caring. He is willing to make campy and quirky Alternative Rock and Pop songs without feeling like he’s trying too hard. I think this album works as an album of teenage angst and a perfection of youthfulness. I wish I had an album like this during my sophomore year of high school. 

Try Out: Neighborhood

86. Treaty Oak Revival – Have a Nice Day [Country Rock]

Treaty Oak Revival’s second album is such a treat to listen to. The band’s 2021 album No Vacancy is a fun record, but Have a Nice Day is what happens when the band’s sound is fully imagined and fully fleshed out. There are so many moments throughout the album that had me hooting and hollering. Just try it out and if you want more words about this album, Andrew wrote about it here.

Try Out: See You In Court

85. Truth Club – Running From the Chase [Post-Punk]

The music festival portion of SXSW is largely to showcase up-and-coming artists to journalists and music aficionados. I loosely fit both of those categories and after nights of research, I discovered Truth Club and watched them play at the Stereogum event. I dubbed it as Slacker Rock fused with Emo and Slowcore. Their sophomore album released this fall doubles down on that description crafting a raw and fully fleshed-out sound from the band. It’s good stuff.

Try Out: Uh Oh

84. Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music [Jazz Fusion]

Jazz drummer Yussef Dayes has two major collaborations. The first being with pianist Kamaal Williams and the second with guitarist and R&B singer Tom Misch. On Yussef’s debut solo album, he pulls from his ever-growing list of collaborators and his nearly 10 years of experience in the UK Jazz scene to craft one of the best jazz albums of this year. His ability to craft and perfect a groove has proven easy for him track-after-track with his pure genius pouring out throughout the album’s 19 tracks. 

Try Out: Chasing the Drum

83. Danny Brown – Quaranta [Abstract Hip-Hop]

I personally try to avoid doubling down on artists when I work on my AOTY lists since I don’t want 10 King Gizzard or Boldy James albums to flood my rankings, but the two projects from Detroit rapper Danny Brown are so starkly different from one another that I had to make an exception. Quaranta is a solo effort from Danny is perceived to be a sequel/successor to his 2011 album XXX. After releasing Scaring the Hoes alongside JPEGMAFIA, Danny Brown checked himself into rehab after battling alcoholism for years. Danny Brown’s post-rehab work ethic finds himself more introspective and conscious than ever. Instead of another over-the-top record chocked full of chaos, Danny finds himself at a crossroads of self-reflection and personal growth. This album is extremely personal and it is hard to describe the emotional power and vulnerability it contains. Though Danny Brown isn’t known for his meditative and introspective side, he shows how beautifully enriching it is. This record isn’t made for anyone, but himself, and that is all it needs to be.

Try Out: Jenn’s Terrific Vacation

82. Youth Lagoon – Heaven Is a Junkyard [Indie Pop]

Eight years after Savage Hills Ballroom, Trevor Powers returns with the best Youth Lagoon album to date. The songs are powerful and focused on healing and finding peace of mind. On the surface, it is catchy Bedroom Pop, but within the melodies are introspective lyrics and fantastic songwriting.

Try Out: Idaho Alien

81. Brent Cobb – Southern Star [Country Soul]

Producer and songwriter Brent Cobb, cousin of legendary country producer Dave Cobb, pivots from Americana and Country to Country Soul in the beautiful Southern Star. He is more focused and inspired to try something different. The grooves are funkier and the energy is similar to country music from the 70s. It’s well-built and well-crafted.

Try Out: Southern Star

80. Jamila Woods – Water Made Us [Neo-Soul]

Jamila Woods is extremely consistent in her three albums and her countless features throughout her career. Water Made Us is a touching and aquatic journey through Neo-Soul and Contemporary R&B led by some of my favorite singles of the year.

Try Out: Boomerang

79. Slow Pulp – Yard [Slacker Rock]

The rapid rise in popularity Slow Pulp received this year is much deserved. Their sophomore album is an earworm-filled project powered by the somber and luscious vocals from lead singer Emily Massey.

Try Out: Doubt

78. Laufey – Bewitched [Traditional Pop]

TikTok’s influence on music debatably for better or for worse overall will be interesting to divulge in the years to come, but for now, we should thank the platform for promoting Laufey into the mainstream and giving an artist making Traditional Pop music a platform. Bewitched is so deeply rooted in the influences of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, but independent of Standards allowing her songwriting to shine as much as her vocal power. It’s perfect for a sunny day.

Try Out: Haunted

77. Water From Your Eyes – Everyone’s Crushed [Experimental Rock]

If you like music that sonically sounds like it hates you for listening to it, then Everyone’s Crushed was made for you. The album is noisy and abrasive but is matched by its energy and catchy vocal performance from Rachel Brown.

Try Out: True Life

76. Cory Hanson – Western Cum [Indie Rock/Country Rock]

The title of Western Cum prepares you for a silly country album but is instead fronted by a perfect combination of Country and Psychedelic Rock to craft a cosmic country sound that is drenched with perfect guitar tones and an energetic performance from Cory Hanson himself. This album is not to be confused with his song Western Cum released later in the year separate from the album.

Try Out: Wings

75. Black Pumas – Chronicles of a Diamond [Soul]

The GRAMMY-nominated duo of Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada under Black Pumas return with their full band on their sophomore effort Chronicles of a Diamond expanding on their Psychedelic Soul sound with more elements of Rock. The highs don’t reach songs like Colors and Fire, but the album is cohesively their best project to date. It will probably get 20 GRAMMY nominations over the next 3 years. 

Try Out: Rock and Roll

74. Aluna – MYCELiUM [Dance-Pop]

Aluna Francis’s second solo record works more as a compilation dance record with each individual song being a collaboration with a major electronic producer such as TSHA, Chris Laker, Tchami, MK, Jayda G, and more. This gives the album a ton of different house textures throughout its runtime with a ton of standouts across the sub-genres of dance.

Try Out: Beggin’

73. Dominic Fike – Sunburn [Alt-Pop]

Dominic Fike first came to note with his demo EP Don’t Forget About Me making waves with his breakout single 3 Nights. Riding on the popularity and releasing additional singles throughout 2019, Fike’s debut album, while still solid in my opinion, struggled to match the same energy his demos had. After collaborating with Paul McCartney, starring in HBO’s Euphoria, and writing the biggest song for the new Spiderverse movie, Dominic Fike returned with Sunburn. The album feels refined like his debut but has the same rawness that his demos and earlier work contained. Songs like the opener How Much Is Weed? and the Weezer-interpolated Think Fast are some of the standouts that show his elevated songwriting meshed with his bedroom alternative rock sound.

Try Out: Think Fast

72. Bakar – Halo [Indie Pop]

Bakar is probably one of the most consistent indie pop artists. His 2019 EP Will You Be My Yellow? was one of my favorite pieces of music during high school and all his work since has lived up to the hype. He is finally getting the attention he deserves with radio airplay of his breakout hit Hell N Back earlier this year and his third full-length album Halo is such a fantastic collection of Indie Pop with a flair of R&B. His music is catchy and powerful, showcasing positivity and the willingness to share his vulnerability throughout the album. The album closes with a new remix of Hell N Back with Summer Walker on the second verse. Bakar deserves the praise.

Try Out: Alive!

71. Militarie Gun – Life Under the Gun [Post-Hardcore]

You need an album full of aggressive anthems and Life Under The Gun is a rush. The album is extremely fun and noisy and they kinda take the tropes of late 90s and early 2000s pop punk and turn them on their head. All the songs are short and punchy. It’s a lot of fun and was one of my favorite first listens of an album this year. I also highly recommend the short remix ep with deconstructed versions of Very High and Never F****d up Once that really showcases the band’s lyricism.

Try Out: Never F****d Up Once

70. Supershy – Happy Music [Deep House]

Last summer, Jazz guitarist and R&B singer Tom Misch decided to start the side project Supershy looking to create nostalgic summer House anthems. Releasing five songs in 2022, Happy Music keeps four of them and tacks on six more crafting a hypnotic and groovy album filled with repetitive samples and vocals from Misch himself. Tom Misch gets to showcase his production chops through a different lens and continues to prove himself as the king of the summer.

Try Out: Feel Like Makin’ Love

69. The Armed – Perfect Saviors [Noise Rock]

I discovered The Armed in 2021 with their extreme Noise Pop record Ultrapop meshing Hardcore with song structures and elements from commercial pop music creating a unique blend of over-the-top pop bangers with overblown soundscapes. Their follow-up seems like a final piece of the band’s pivot from hardcore punk into noisy Indie Rock. Fans of the band may not appreciate their new sound, but I absolutely love the new sound for the band. It is hard to separate a band from what they used to be and what they want to do now, but once that is dissociated, it’s easy to just enjoy how awesome this record sounds. It’s perfect for a long drive at night.

Try Out: Public Grieving

68. Masego – Masego [Neo-Soul]

Lady Lady is one of the greatest Neo-Soul and Contemporary R&B albums of the past 15 years. Masego’s sophomore album is another great collection of R&B. The opening track sample’s DJ Casper’s Cha Cha Slide and What You Wanna Try interpolates Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner which are interesting choices for a Neo-Soul record, but Masego makes them work. There are a lot of creative pieces throughout the album, constantly keeping the album interesting.

Try Out: Sax Fifth Avenue

67. The Blaze – Jungle [Progressive House]

The Blaze is one of the few groups keeping French-based electronic music alive. Though the band isn’t touching on French House, the French sound is alive on their sophomore album Jungle. Similar to how I felt about ODESZA’s 2022 album The Last Goodbye, The Blaze crafted a very cinematic and spectacle-focused atmospheric dance record made for winding down through the long summer nights.

Try Out: Eyes

66. Colter Wall – Little Songs [Western]

Canadians love country music as much as Americans. Saskatchewan-based artist Colter Wall has made a name for himself being a cowboy making music about being a cowboy with his gruff voice and acoustic guitar. He seems to have a lot more pull to music consumers unfamiliar with the genres of Country and for good reason, he is showing how much more expansive the genre can be versus a lot of mainstream Contemporary Country. Little Songs is his first full-length album in three years filled with beautiful tracks like For a Long While and Corralling the Blues. His music is simplistic and warm. He’s a storyteller and a damn good musician.

Try Out: Little Songs

65. B. Cool-Aid – Leather Blvd. [Jazz Rap]

Pink Siifu and Awlee’s second collaborative album under B. Cool-Aid is longer than everything they’ve done together combined. The album finds the two collaborating with their regular entourage and regular players such as Liv.e, V.C.R., Butcher Brown, Jimetta Rose, Fousheé, and many more. Throughout the album’s runtime, it feels less focused on Siifu’s raps and his abstract lyricism than creating an atmosphere of Neo-Soul where each track is choked full of collaborators similar to cuts off of Siifu’s 2021 album GUMBO’! This creates a really peaceful and warm atmosphere like a soundtrack to a large group smoke session. It’s a sort of concept I haven’t seen before but works extremely well.

Try Out: Cnt Go Back ( Tell Me )

64. Travis Scott – UTOPIA [Trap/Experimental Hip Hop]

How “experimental” can a mainstream trap record become without losing any commercial viability? That is a question I was asking after delving into Travis Scott’s much-awaited UTOPIA the night of its release. Though the album was commercially successful, the album lacked the staying power of his commercial powerhouse ASTROWORLD. However, it is still an extremely exceptional record. Tracks like HYAENA and MODERN JAM are anthemic while songs like MY EYES and LOST FOREVER are moodier and darker. Tracks like the six-minute SKITZO or the Playboi Carti-backed FE!N are some of his most inspiring works in ages. Even commercially targeted tracks like MELTDOWN with Drake and DELRESTO with Beyoncé still have layers of experimental sounds. The album concludes on the HEROES & VILLAINS session track Til Further Notice. Travis liked it so much that it became a piece of his album instead of Metro Boomin’s. The album is a showcase of how much Kanye West’s past work has influenced Travis Scott and how much more focused and targeted Travis is on his own work compared to his typically phoned-in features. The album is only going to get better over time.

Try Out: MY EYES

63. Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat in the Rain [Red Dirt]

Evan Felker, Kyle Nix, and the rest of the Turnpike Troubadours reuniting is some of the best news in Country music in the past few years. A brand-new full-length album is just a bonus. Like their earlier work, the fusion of Country and Rock is done masterfully and Evan Felker’s vocal performance is just as incredible as their earlier work. The band seems to pick up where they left off and are more connected than ever.

Try Out: Won’t You Give Me One More Chance

62. Amaarae – Fountain Baby [Alternative R&B/Afrobeats]

Amaarae’s sophomore album was one of the best summer-oriented albums. Filled with songs fusing Afrobeats and Alternative R&B, the songs are elevated by Amaarae’s soft and energetic vocal performance. Songs like Co-Star and Sociopathic Dance Queen are so enjoyable that you can’t help but fall in love with the album track after track.

Try Out: Co-Star

61. Weval – Remember [Indietronica]

Indietronica and Downtempo are my kryptonite. You add a couple bloops and an electronic drum loop to your pop songs and it instantly becomes one of my favorite albums of the year. Weval does it so well on Remember with the hypnotic production over soothing vocal performances.

Try Out: Everything Went Well

60. Hotline TNT – Cartwheel [Slacker Rock]

I would like to take this time to apologize to Hotline TNT for slightly slandering them on my SXSW recap. I got to hear portions of this album in their earliest form and I wasn’t grateful. This is some of the most enjoyable Slacker Rock I’ve heard all year fronted by an extremely enjoyable front batch of tracks. Third Man knows what they’re doing signing these guys.

Try Out: Protocol

59. Noname – Sundial [Conscious Hip-Hop]

Noname’s critics are the most vocal about her outspoken personality citing plenty of moments where Noname wronged them and how “Noname hates her fans” among many other moments in hip-hop circles or on Rap Twitter (Rap X?) that will forever apply to her music regardless of its quality. So even if she drops one of the best hip-hop records of the year, the reception will continuously be fogged up by the hate of a poorly phrased sound bite and a larger misunderstanding. On top of that, Sundial itself will forever be clouded over the controversial choice of featuring Jay Electronica on the album.

Looking past a singular verse that incidentally sounds recorded on a tin can in a half-bath built from concrete and ceramic tiles, Noname’s introspective and luscious Jazz Rap epic finds herself reflecting on her past and her hypocrisy through her ten years of music. The track namesake is the second most controversial off the album where her discussion of major artists like Beyoncé and Kendrick “selling out” to corporate America was pulled out of context where the final phrase of the song is her ultimately criticizing herself for falling in line with the same practices. The introspective nature of the album is something that requires an active ear and without it, the points being made can never resonate.

Try Out: gospel?

58. Naomi Sharon – Obsidian [Alternative R&B]

Thanks to my parents’ cars, I have access to SiriusXM. If I’m not using it for radio play-by-plays while I’m driving then I sometimes use it when I can’t figure out what mood I am in while working in the KTXT offices. Earlier this year, I tuned into Drake’s Sound 42 and heard newly signed OVO artist Naomi Sharon with Definition of Love, a beautifully crafted Sophisti-Pop and R&B fusion, which is as close as we’re getting to new Sade music this decade. Her full-length debut is a beautifully recorded and produced R&B album that is transcendent and beautiful.

Try Out: Definition of Love

58. Daniel Caesar – Never Enough [Contemporary R&B]

Daniel Caesar’s third full-length album finds him moodier than ever creating rich and sensual ballads. The album contains features from some of the best artists in R&B with a surprise appearance from Mustafa as well as features from serpentwithfeet, Omar Apollo, and the always available Ty Dolla $ign. The album’s strongest outings are when Danny is standing alone with tracks like Valentina, Let Me Go, Do You Like Me? And Always being some of the best cuts on the entire project. Furthermore, the deluxe adds the BADBADNOTGOOD-produced Please Do Not Lean from 2022, and remixes of Always and Valentina with Summer Walker and Rick Ross, respectively both worthy candidates of replacing the original versions from the album.

Try Out: Always

56. Yves Tumor – Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) [Neo-Psychedelia]

No artist is creating music as cool as Yves Tumor. I think the album has been forgotten as the year has progressed due to the March release date, but revisiting this album shows that it’s a solid project. Though weaker than his last two projects, it’s still one of the best albums of this year.

Try Out: Ebony Eye

55. Troye Sivan – Something to Give Each Other [Dance-Pop]

I have appreciated but never loved Troye Sivan’s previous work because his dreamy pop sound just wasn’t for me even though I understood it to be quite good. Something to Give Each Other is my kind of music. Dance-Pop with House influence is a match made in heaven after Troye Sivan’s recent outings with Charli XCX and it works so well. Songs like the GRAMMY-nominated Rush are fast and high-energy and One of Your Girls is more sensual and relaxed. The trend of using old 90s and early 2000s songs to base your song is one of my least-favorite nostalgia-baiting trends in current pop music (i.e., David Guetta’s I’m Good), but Got Me Started does it so impressively well that the song really elevates the original Bag Raiders track. I welcome Troye Sivan as the new king of Dance-Pop alongside PinkPantheress as our queen.

Try Out: Rush

54. McKinley Dixon – Beloved! Paradise! Jazz? [Jazz Rap/Conscious Hip-Hop]

I was unaware of McKinley Dixon until Beloved! Paradise! Jazz? made traction across the internet and music circles, but he has crafted a fantastic jazz rap outing filled with beautiful live instrumentation and poetic verses from McKinley Dixon and others like Ghais Guevara and Teller Bank$.

Try Out: Beloved! Paradise! Jazz?

53. Key Glock – Glockoma 2 (Deluxe) [Trap]

Specifically, the deluxe version of this album is why this album is so high on my list. For nearly an entire hour with no features, Key Glock and his usual group of producers build an album with banger after banger. There is hardly a weak moment on this record and Key Glock just goes to work with such well-crafted production and witty bars. This is an album you get work done too.

Try Out: No Hook

52. Charles Wesley Godwin – Family Ties [Americana]

This is one of the first years that my list has a consistent pull of country albums on it thanks to Lubbock (and Andrew Watters) for causing me to grow into the genre more and more. Charles Wesley Godwin’s Appalachian Folk-influenced Americana record is one of the best indie country albums of the year. It is well-written and well-performed with Godwin having some of the best vocal presence in Country music this year. Hopefully, his appearance on the new Hunger Games soundtrack will give him his much-deserved attention.

Try Out: All Again

51. M83 – Fantasy [Indietronica]

M83 was one of the first bands I truly learned to appreciate. As a kid hearing songs like Wait and Midnight City completely changed the trajectory of my life. I feel that with crafting such a monumentally cherished album comes the challenges of following it up and attempts like Junk instead tried to pivot to other styles. To me, Fantasy is as close to a followup to Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming while also pulling from elements of Shoegaze from the band’s 2000s work. There are moments throughout the record that shine like classic M83 tracks and others that feel like a transcription of nostalgia and childhood memories.

Try Out: Amnesia

50. Hozier – Unreal Unearth [Singer-Songwriter]

I don’t think I can describe this album anywhere near the level of perfection that Libby Veatch did just weeks ago for the station, but I’m going to try! Hozier has been cursed with an extremely successful song in Take Me to Church with every piece of work being overshadowed by this monstrous hit. Instead of trying to ride the wave and create mere copycats of that song until the commercial plausibility is completely washed away, Hozier continues to use his soulful baritone voice to make projects meshing blues, folk, alternative, and pop all contained by his enriching lyricism which seems to be just one of his many strengths. Another strength is his use of religious metaphors throughout his discography. A concept album of Dante’s Inferno is extremely ambitious to pull off well not only in creating songs that cohesively work but correctly tell a story. A lot of concept albums with this level of ambition either focus too loosely on the concept and lose its purpose or focus so heavily on correctly fitting into the concept that the album suffers. Neither occurs here and Hozier creates possibly his strongest work yet. It is equally epic and personal. Using the levels of hell to tell different emotional stories guides the album in a beautifully cohesive manner. I am impressed.

Try Out: Abstract (Psychopomp)

49. Model/Actriz – Dogsbody [Noise Rock]

Another SXSW story: I saw Model/Actriz perform a show that got moved from a large outdoor space to an extremely tight and at-capacity indoor stage. With this album less than a month old, they performed a majority of the album and just like the room where I couldn’t move whatsoever, the songs were dense, noisy, anxiety-inducing, and suspenseful. I associate this album with that feeling. It’s manic, it’s energetic, it’s dark, and it’s a lot to take in. It’s not for everybody, but if you can digest it, I think you’ll love it.

Try Out: Mosquito

48. Chris Stapleton – Higher [Contemporary Country]

Chris Stapleton’s Starting Over was such a sonically rich album with a ton of different textures and touches throughout. Instead of continuing down that road, Higher finds Stapleton looking for a much more minimalist approach to his music focusing on much more simplicity in the instrumentation. Producer Dave Cobb and Stapleton dive deeper into elements of Country Soul and really allow Stapleton’s beautiful vocals to do the heavy lifting here.

Try Out: Think I’m In Love With You

47. The Japanese House – In The End It Always Does [Indie Pop]

Produced mostly by The 1975’s George Daniel, Amber Bain’s sophomore album finds herself continuously improving creating romantic and calmingly soft indie pop. Songs like Over There and Spot Dog touch on the melancholic side while Touching Yourself and Sad to Breathe are upbeat and fun. There’s a lot to like throughout this album like the MUNA-backed Morning Pages or the Matty Healy-backed Sunshine Baby. Still, Japanese House finds herself at the forefront of a standout record.

Try Out: Touching Yourself

46. Protomartyr – Formal Growth in the Desert [Post-Punk]

Detroit-outfit Protomartyr proves their consistency once more with their sixth album. Compared to their past work, this album has this barren, almost Western-like energy to it. The songs still are consistent with their Post-Punk style, but they feel more abstract than ever.

Try Out: Polacrilex Kid

45. LP Giobbi – Light Places [House]

One of the best things happening in all genres of dance music right now is the growth and promotion of women producers and their work. LP Giobbi’s biggest influence on her work is shockingly Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. After releasing an entire remix of Jerry Garcia’s classic self-titled record earlier this year, LP releases one of the most polished and psychedelic house records of the year. I think her inspiration from the psychedelic nature of Grateful Dead’s greatest moments is all proven throughout this album’s runtime with songs like If Love Is a Skill or All in a Dream having this dream-like state to them. One of the biggest standouts is Georgia which builds for nearly three minutes before exploding in the final moments. It’s a fantastically curated and produced album and a sonic treat.

Try Out: All In A Dream

44. Squid – O Monolith [Art Punk]

I found Squid through their EP Town Centre and absolutely loved their debut album Bright Green Field which finished at #4 in my 2021 list. O Monolith is another phenomenal effort from the band that leaves Post-Punk behind in favor of expanding the Art Punk elements at the forefront. I loved how Bright Green Fields utilized touches of Dance-Punk while O Monolith searched for pieces of Noise Rock throughout. It’s similar but has a stylistically different sound from the band. It’s still incredible music.

Try Out: Undergrowth

43. Marina Herlop – Nekkuja [Avant-Folk]

Marina Herlop’s fourth album feels like a walk through a simulated garden. You don’t notice it at first, but certain pieces start glitching and shifting around. It’s really beautiful and has this ethereal and surreal sound while also touching on Chamber Folk at certain parts. It’s a cool listen.

Try Out: Reina Mora

42. Grian Chatten – Chaos for the Fly [Chamber Pop]

Fontaines D.C’s lead singer steps back from Gothic Rock in favor of Singer-Songwriter heavy Chamber Pop. Chaos for the Fly is extremely personal and a lot more subdued compared to a lot of the sounds Fontaines had been pushing out. It’s a softer soundscape being built and it is extremely well done.

Try Out: Fairlies

41. George Clanton – Ooh Rap I Ya [Neo-Psychedelia]

Ooh Rap I Ya is a tribute to the youthful and anthemic sounds of the 90s. The album rides the nostalgia train while still feeling so enthralling and original. The songs are distorted and compressed to build a beautiful wall of sound and George Clanton’s vocals just bring the album together with his playful and bittersweet presence throughout. It is so well done.

Try Out: I Been Young

40. Actress – LXXXVIII [IDM]

There are so many elements at play in the music of Darren Cunningham. Each album of his seems to pull from different elements of electronic from House to IDM to Ambient and more. This album seems to pull from all of those pieces track after track to build a journey through the electronic sphere and fuse this hypnotic and futuristic world of music together.

Try Out: Its me (g 8 )

39. a.s.o. – a.s.o. [Trip Hop]

In the past few years, I’ve discovered my love of Downtempo and Trip Hop. However, the best works in the genre are 20 years old from artists like Portishead, Massive Attack, UNKLE, and countless others. a.s.o. and their self-titled debut is a perfect modern addition to an enthralling genre. Every track on here is relaxed, it’s moody, and it’s hypnotizing. The vocals from Alia Seror-O’Neill fit the mood while producer Lewie Day is creating these jazz-influenced synth-powered tracks with infectious grooves. I pray this is the start of a Trip Hop revival as I am obsessed with this album.

Try Out: Rain Down

38. Jordan Ward – FORWARD [Contemporary R&B]

Like everyone else, I am obsessed with Jordan Ward now. I discovered him through Joony’s 2022 album Pretty in Black and was excited for his new album after falling in love with IDC with Joony. FORWARD is just a strong collection of catchy and short Contemporary R&B produced and written alongside Lido. It’s positive, uplifting, and has good vibes throughout with features from other great Contemporary R&B artists. If this can be the direction and level of energy Pop radio or Pop music can obtain in the next few years, we are heading in the right direction. 

Try Out: White Crocs

37. Jim Legxacy – Homeless N**** Pop Music [Alternative R&B]

Jim Legxacy has been on the rise as a producer with Dave and Central Cee’s Splinter and working with Fred again.. on ten. On his mixtape, Jim Legxacy tries his hand at Alternative R&B, Emo Rap, Afrobeats, Garage, and more seeing what works. It creates a very diverse and sonically interesting project led by Jim Legxacy’s soft vocals. There is a lot to like here with also phenomenal potential as an artist.

Try Out: Candy Reign (!)

36. Tainy – DATA [Reggaetón]

Tainy comes through with one of the best produced in all genres this year. Reggaetón is one of the hottest genres in the world right now and one of the best reasons is Tainy’s production throughout the genre. On DATA, Tainy pulls some of the biggest names in the genre and more to craft probably the best album in the genre this decade.

Try Out: VOLVER

35. Cautious Clay – KARPEH [Alternative R&B/Jazz]

Cautious Clay’s sophomore album goes in a completely different direction than expected. Cautious Clay before this album was crafting Bedroom Pop-influenced R&B similar to Still Woozy and Remi Wolf. After a bunch of solid EPs, his debut album did not meet expectations and to some below-average. On KARPEH, an album named after his last name, he goes off in a different direction. Releasing the album through the famous and established Blue Note Records, Cautious Clay opens the album basically saying my family is actually full of geniuses and I am about to give you some of the coolest music of the year. Some tracks lean heavier into R&B with live instrumentation while others like Yesterday’s Price with the incredible Immanuel Wilkins and Ambrose Akinmusire are straight Post-Bop jazz tracks. It is an absolute feat to come back with your second full-length album and do so much from singing, playing guitar, drums, multiple different saxophones, flute, bass, synthesizer, bass clarinet, and more. He came on this album mad as hell.

Try Out: Yesterday’s Price

34. Sofia Kourtesis – Madres [Deep House]

I don’t have much to add to my description other than saying: THIS ALBUM ROCKS. Ninja Tune is constantly signing some of the best artists in electronic music and this album is no different. Madres is such a consistently high-level effort from Sofia Kourtesis that I can’t stop listening to it. It’s such a strong collection of nocturnal Latin-inspired house songs. You can’t ask for anything more.

Try Out: How Music Makes You Feel Better

33. Lil Yachty – Let’s Start Here. [Neo-Psychedelia]

Lil Yachty’s ability to stay relevant is an interesting thing to uncover. His first wind was with Lil Boat and his second was Lil Boat 3 before blowing up again with Poland in 2022. Yachty’s run this year is a completely different beast. He not only gave birth to up-and-coming collective Concrete Boys but released a bunch of fantastic singles from Cloud Rap to Rage to Jazz Rap with J. Cole. On top of that, Lil Yachty’s most notable release was a Neo-Psychedelia album. This album is not only exciting from Yachty trying something so insanely different from his typical music, but he does it so well. He’s genuinely so passionate about trying to craft this style of music correctly without directly ripping off his inspirations. With vocal appearances from Teezo Touchdown, Diana Gordon, Daniel Caesar, Fousheé, Justine Skye, and more plus production credits from Nick Hakim, Magdalena Bay, Mac DeMarco, sadpony, and more, it shows how much Yachty was putting into making this album was. It is so incredibly impressive.

Try Out: drive ME crazy!

32. L’Rain – I Killed Your Dog [Neo-Psychedelia]

L’Rain’s music has been so beautiful since I discovered her first album. On I Killed Your Dog, takes a few small steps away from the sound collage style that is rooted in her earlier works for a more basic and traditional sound. Though the production loses pieces of its depth, Taja finds herself more vocally prominent and in focus than ever which really benefits the album as a whole. Her vocals are passionate and powerful. The album is another stunning album in her discography.

Try Out: 5 to 8 Hours a Day (WWwaG)

31. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown – Scaring the Hoes / DLC Pack [Experimental Hip-Hop]

This is some of the best-produced Hip-Hop I have heard this year. JPEGMAFIA’s ability to sample and craft these beautiful, noisy, and insane beats track after track is incredible. Scaring the Hoes is the humorous collaboration between Detroit’s Danny Brown and internet-beloved JPEGMAFIA. Off the bat, this album functions more as a JPEGMAFIA album with Danny Brown, but together it is still a match made in heaven for the two. It’s a lot to take in if you are unfamiliar with either of these artists, but if things on this album start working, you’ve officially gone too far down the rabbit hole.

Try Out: Kingdom Hearts Key

30. PinkPantheress – Heaven Knows [Contemporary R&B/Drum and Bass]

PinkPantheress had a huge year working with Skrillex and Trippie Redd, Taylor Swift, Ice Spice, Destroy Lonely, and releasing a song for the Barbie soundtrack. Her promising mixtape To Hell With It was a favorite of mine in 2021 and her EP last year showed she had more than crafting 1-minute Atmospheric Drum and Bass tracks over 90s Dance samples. Heaven Knows is a large expansion of her best ideas on a more mature and less gimmicky level. Tracks like Capable of Love and Mosquito are just well-written R&B-Dance songs while Nice to Meet You is just a ton of fun. There’s a lot to enjoy with earworms coming and going in in just 3-minutes or less.

Try Out: Capable of Love

29. Genesis Owusu – Struggler [Dance-Punk/Alternative R&B]

Struggler finds Genesis Owusu returning to the brief, but charming Dance-Punk moments from the genre-bending Smiling With No Teeth on a larger level. The tracks are punchy and fun as Owusu powers through the album with all his different talents when he could’ve just used his charisma alone. The production is solid and Owusu happens to elevate every second of the album.

Try Out: Tied Up!

28. Romy – Mid Air [Dance-Pop]

In the nearly 15 years Romy has been making music, Mid Air is her first solo album. With production help from mostly Fred again.., but with additional production from Jamie xx and Brian Eno, Romy finds herself over beautifully rich and textured Dance tracks elevated by her passionate and ethereal vocals. The album sounds like what falling in love feels like. Fred again..’s production really elevates the album here which is great because his work with Ed Sheeran was lackluster.

Try Out: Loveher

27. Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life [Contemporary R&B]

A year after the R&B epic that was WASTELAND, Brent Faiyaz returns to the DMV for the surprise project Larger Than Life. Based on the sounds of Timberland, The Neptunes, and other early 2000s R&B, Brent features a large cast of artists from Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia crafting an exciting hometown record. It’s a really fun and sexual album that I think will get a huge second wind this next summer.

Try Out: Upset

26. Wednesday – Rat Saw God [Alt-Country]

I don’t necessarily know how to describe my feelings of appreciation for this album. Wednesday creates an album combining elements of Country, Shoegaze, Indie Rock, and more with a beautiful vocalist in Karly Hartzman. There are moments like the eight-and-a-half-minute epic Bull Believer at the start or the Benadryl-based Chosen to Deserve. On top of that, MJ Lenderman absolutely kills it on lead guitar throughout with the riffs on the album being so good.

Try Out: Chosen to Deserve

25. Chartreuse – Morning Ritual [Indie Rock]

I saw these guys open for Local Natives and one performance was all I needed to be extremely hyped over their new album. Morning Ritual has this lyrically deep and sonically stunning trait to it that I can’t get over. The opener All Seeing All The Time is sharp and straight to the point while Backstroke is this moodier bass-heavy slowburner that picks up in the backend. It is a really sick record and hope that this band grows with the quality they’re showcasing here.

Try Out: All Seeing All The Time

24. Joe Hisaishi & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Symphonic Celebration: Music From the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki / Joe Hisaishi – The Boy and The Heron [Cinematic Classical]

Joe Hisaishi has been the leading man in crafting the companion scores to all of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli animated films since the 80s. Through the legendary Deutsche Grammophon imprint, Hisaishi revisits and rearranges his best moments alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The term celebration on the title is much deserved because these are some of the greatest scores coming back to life in a contemporary classical lens with elements of Choral, Baroque, and Romanticism.

On top of that, Joe Hisaishi scored the new Ghibli film The Boy and The Heron with a more minimalistic lens just as fantastically as the aforementioned album so I wanted to shout it out here as well.

Try Out: Symphonic Variation “Merry-Go-Round + Cave of Mind”

23. Paris Texas – Mid Air [Rap Rock]

The kids that grew up with the Linkin Park and JAY-Z Collision Course EP are making music that combines elements of both artists making Rap Rock that doesn’t sound like a cheap attempt at pulling from Pop Punk and Pop Rap but instead combines Rock instrumentation with energetic lyricism. Paris Texas finally reached their cohesive boiling point on Mid Air with an album that is punchy and outspoken. On top of the vulgar moments, like Everybody’s Safe Until…, Lana Del Rey, or Earth-2, there are moments of vulnerability like the song DnD with Kenny Mason or …We Fall. It’s awesome.

Try Out: Everybody’s Safe Until…

22. Nourished by Time – Erotic Probiotic 2 [Alternative R&B]

I want to try and make an association to make this album understandable in sound. This album is Hypnagogic Pop but instead focuses on late 80s and early 90s R&B and Freestyle. It is produced with such an insane level of groove and attention that lets Nourished by Time’s lead vocals shine and all the songs are so beautifully touched with love.

Try Out: Shed That Fear

21. Skrillex – Quest for Fire / Don’t Get Too Close [Electronic Dance Music]

The first solo record from Skrillex in almost 10 years is a complete disregard to his previous Brostep sound and instead focuses on so many highlights in the genre of Electronic and Dance touching on Garage, EDM Trap, House, and more. Almost every single track has a credited artist alongside Skrillex whether it’s the vocalists or a co-producer helping craft this dynamic and fun album. There is a track for everyone here with the major hit Rumble being one of the standouts. On top of it, Skrillex released the Pop-oriented Don’t Get Too Close showcasing the original variations of his songs he sampled as well as other earworm and easy tracks like Way Back or Selecta.

Try Out: XENA

20. Larry June & The Alchemist – The Great Escape [West Coast Hip Hop]

Larry June’s best albums happen to be a collaboration with a producer and The Great Escape with The Alchemist might be his best album yet. The production is some of the cleanest all year and Larry June slides on each track. Alongside the two of them, Larry June pulls some fantastic features with Big Sean, Boldly James, Joey Bada$$, and more all chipping in verses, but even with them, Larry June stands on top with his charismatic verses. It ended up being a summertime favorite of mine and has been in constant rotation all year.

Try Out: Porsches in Spanish

19. Slowdive – Everything Is Alive [Dream Pop]

Slowdive’s first album in 6 years is another excellent piece to their discography. They are a band that has nothing left to prove and turns everything they create into gold. Everything Is Alive dips more into the Dream Pop sound of theirs versus their typical Shoegaze-inspired albums. The atmosphere built here is exquisite and top-notch with Rachel Goswell’s vocals being just as fantastic as ever. 

Try Out: alife

18. Kelela – Raven [Alternative R&B/Electronic]

Kelela’s return was one of the most exciting moments of the earlier half of this year. Singles like Contact and Happy Ending showed Kelela’s sound perfected on Take Me Apart was still improving and was going to flourish on Raven. The album continues her Alternative R&B electronic-meshed style with so much energy. The album is perfect for a late-night drive and deserves all the praise it has gotten all year.

Try Out: Happy Ending

17. Andy Shauf – Norm [Singer-Songwriter]

Norm is Shauf’s most mature album yet. Norm is a concept around a stalker by the name of Norm who eventually kidnaps a character in the name of love. It’s an interesting dive into the unreliable narrator method of storytelling. The creative approach to this record fused with its peaceful nature with an entrancing story is why it is one of my favorites of the year. There is a very minimalist take to this album versus his past records and it works to create such a fantastic story.

Try Out: Catch Your Eye

16. Maxo – Even God Has a Sense of Humor / Debbie’s Son [Abstract Hip-Hop]

Maxo’s two albums this year are both so well-conceived and crafted. To be specific, Even God Has a Sense of Humor is a passionate dive into Maxo’s consciousness illuminated by fantastic production. Certain moments here can feel like a gut punch of honesty touching on the struggles of life through depression and everything else that kicks a person down while others are luscious and bittersweet. 

Try Out: Free!

15. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – Weathervanes [Americana]

I was slightly disappointed that I got to see Jason Isbell before the official release of Weathervanes because hearing songs like King of Oklahoma, Save the World, or This Ain’t It live would have been such a euphoric experience for me. Jason Isbell’s first self-produced album since Here We Rest has a collection of some of his best songs on an extremely consistent any beautiful record. Every song is an individual story based on people in Jason Isbell’s personal life crafting these songs that either rock, feel bittersweet, or make you want to curl up into a ball and cry. It’s one of the best albums in the country genre this year.

Try Out: King of Oklahoma

14. Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good! [Dance-Pop/Disco]

After the massive success of Jessie Ware’s shift to Disco on What’s Your Pleasure, she returns with That! Feels Good! another collection of sensual Dance-Pop. Through every single song on this album, the music feels embedded with the sound of diamonds and a bedazzled dance floor. It is a truly elegant feeling and Jessie Ware’s vocals are so flashy and beautiful that I can’t help but smile the entire time. The production here is top-notch and is perfectly crafted around Jessie’s lyrics.

Try Out: Pearls

13. Róisín Murphy – Hit Parade [Art Pop]

On the DJ Koze-produced Hit Parade, Róisín Murphy finds herself at her most consistent. DJ Koze brings out the best of Róisín with her ability to craft a House-infused Art Pop sound. Songs like the 7-minute You Knew, or my summertime favorite CooCool are psychedelic, playful, and beautiful. It is her most focused and most appealing.

Try Out: CooCool

12. Barry Can’t Swim – When Will We Land? [Deep House]

I enjoyed Barry Can’t Swim’s early discography for his ability to craft simple, but unique Deep House tracks. When Will We Land? finds Barry expanding past the simplicity to craft a sentimental and uplifting house record diving into different pieces of House and arriving on top. Songs like Deadbeat Gospel feel similar to the Actual Life 3-era of Fred again.. While Sunsleeper and Dance of the Crab have a flavor of Latin and Tribal House.

Try Out: Always Get Through To You

11. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps [Conscious Hip-Hop]

It is well known that the best album of billy woods is 2019’s Hiding Places produced entirely by Kenny Segal. Maps finds the two reuniting for a more accessible Conscious Hip-Hop concept record based around the feeling of alienation and melancholy one can face while on tour. Segal’s production has tastes of jazz and even IDM, crafting one of the most engaging albums released by woods yet. Every track is a lyrical masterpiece.Try Out: FaceTime

I wanted to add a brief addendum saying that though I think Javelin was the best album of 2023, it was not my “favorite”. It was a close call, but this next album was one of my favorites of this year.