As another incredible year in music wraps up, we’re thrilled to present our carefully curated list of the 23 best albums of 2023! Dive into our selection and join the musical journey on Spotify. Don’t forget to hit that like button while you’re there.
When you’re done here, check out The Daily Music Report’s 20 best songs of 2023.
23. Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
With This Stupid World, Yo La Tengo masterfully reinvent themselves, crafting one of their most delightful albums in over a decade.
22. The Lemon Twigs – Everything Harmony
The New York-based indie rock duo unleash their fourth studio album featuring a mix of psychedelic pop, baroque pop, and glam rock.
21. PVRIS – EVERGREEN
Led by the visionary multi-instrumentalist Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, PVRIS dares to redefine their artistic boundaries and venture deeper into the realms of hip-hop and R&B influences.
20. SPELLES – Diving Into the Arms of the Divine
SPELLES unveil their much-anticipated debut album delving into the mystical, cinematic, and imaginative as they draw inspiration from musical titans like Portishead, Radiohead, and Nina Simone.
19. Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Lana Del Rey’s ninth overall album spans 16 tracks and is a beautiful and atmospheric collection of songs about love, loss, and longing.
18. Ashnikko – WEEDKILLER
Dropped on August 25, 2023, WEEDKILLER is backed by five singles and inspired by a diverse musical journey.
17. Andy Shauf – Norm
On Norm, Canadian singer/songwriter Andy Shauf allows you to sit back, unwind, and let the record take you away.
16. Neil Young – Chrome Dreams
Originally considered as an album for release in 1977, Chrome Dreams features 12 songs recorded between 1974 and 1977.
15. Feist – Multitudes
Written and recorded in a custom-built studio in Northern California’s Redwood Forest, Multitudes serves as a reflection on the past few years, which have been a time of immense change for Feist.
14. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
Javelin sees Stevens return to “full singer-songwriter mode” for the first time since his 2015 studio album Carrie & Lowell. The album features contributions from several friends, including harmonies provided by Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui, and Nedelle Torrisi.
13. Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
On Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, Polachek embraces hope and confidence to astounding effect.
12. Sexores – Mar del Sur EP
Sexores has returned from a three-year hiatus with their latest EP, Mar del Sur. The sole EP on our list, this six-track collection masterfully intertwines dance-rock and dark wave, chronicling their South American adventures while advocating for diversity.
11. Blockhead – The Aux
With a star-studded lineup, The Aux is a testament to Blockhead’s prowess as a producer, as he skillfully blends an array of artists across different epochs and subcultures within indie hip-hop.
10. MF Tomlinson – We Are Still Wild Horses
After listening to Tomlinson’s We Are Still Wild Horses, you will understand why we consider him one of the most original and intriguing artists we’ve ever heard. From cadence to delivery, subject matter to his arrangements… Tomlinson’s music has it all.
9. The New Division – Modern Life
Consisting of 10 tracks, Modern Life explores the consequences of technology addiction and navigating a relentlessly ever-changing world. It’s beautiful. It’s haunting. And it’s sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who listens to it.
8. Wednesday – Rat Saw God
This 37-minute album, released via Dead Oceans (home to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski), takes the listener on a fascinating journey of diverse genres. Seamlessly blending 90s grunge, shoegaze, and heartfelt country ballads, Rat Saw God is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates music that pushes boundaries.
7. Killer Michael – Michael
Featuring an impressive lineup of artists, Michael boasts collaborations with CeeLo Green, Mozzy, Young Thug, 6lack, Eryn Allen Kane, Jagged Edge, André 3000, Future, Currensy, 2 Chainz, Kaash Paige, Blxst, Fabo, El-P and Ty Dolla Sign.
6. Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
The Scottish trio Young Fathers dropped their fourth studio album, Heavy Heavy. Consisting of ten tracks, they announced Heavy Heavy on October 20, 2022, unveiling their second single, ‘I Saw,’ alongside it.
5. Hozier – Unreal Unearth
Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, Unreal Unearth reflects Hozier’s attempt to comprehend the past two years, drawing inspiration from Dante’s Inferno and its nine circles of Hell.
4. Travis Scott – UTOPIA
Featuring an array of guest vocalists and an eclectic team of producers, UTOPIA defies conventions with its concept record and accompanied film, Circus Maximus.
3. Hamish Hawk – Angel Numbers
Mixing indie rock and chamber pop at their finest, the Scottish musician injects a hint of humor, inviting listeners to step back from life and revel. The album is a timeless piece that astounds from track to track due to his romantic, joyful, and outright transcendent views of everyday life.
2. Noname – Sundial
For admirers of Noname or those seeking intellectually stimulating music, Sundial comes highly recommended as an album that lingers in the mind well beyond the initial listen.
1. Parannoul 파란노을 – After The Magic
Parannoul’s 파란노을 third studio album and the major label debut, After The Magic, is described by Parannoul as “not what you expected, but what I always wanted.”