It was a fascinating year for new music.
There was just so much to enjoy from so many different genres in 2023 — from Latin and country to mainstream pop and indie rock.
The mix was bountiful, often breathtaking, and, at times, even dizzying. But it was certainly never boring.
The depth and breadth of the musical riches was underscored once again as we put together our picks for the Top 10 Albums of 2023, knowing full well that we weren’t going to come anywhere close to being able to fit all that was worthwhile and deserving on the list.
Yet, we pushed ahead anyway and the result is one that we believe nicely represents the year in music.
Well, at least in terms of music that was actually released in 2023.
We feel it necessary to point out that the new album we listened to the most in 2023 was SZA’s “SOS.” But that one came out at the tail end of 2022 and, thus, wasn’t technically eligible for this list. Sorry, SZA. We still think you’re great.
With that caveat out of the way, let’s drop the needle on the top albums of 2023.
1. “Lucky,” Megan Moroney
The Georgia native caught our attention in late 2022 with the single “Tennessee Orange” — a wonderfully clever and endearing love song framed through the lens of college football loyalties — and then followed up with a full-length debut that contained a dozen more equally outstanding tunes. The result was not only the finest country music outing of the last 12 months, but also the best new album we heard from any genre in 2023. The songwriting simply sparkles, updating country traditions with a decidedly 21st-century edge, and Moroney’s voice is about as engaging as it gets. We simply can’t wait to see where this major talent goes from here.
2. “Génesis,” Peso Pluma
The massive breakthrough album from this 24-year-old Mexican artist more than lives up to the hype, standing tall in a year in which Latin music continued to dominate so much of the pop universe. Of course, one doesn’t have to understand Spanish to enjoy Peso’s modern brand of regional Mexican music — dubbed corridos tumbados – where he takes the traditional corridor ballad form and then joyfully and fluidly spices it up with hip-hop, reggaeton and other styles. Yet, his lyrics certainly are a big selling point as well, bursting with swagger and style as he takes listeners on one memorable ride after another. The vibe and sound remain equally powerful and addictive throughout the 17 tracks, resulting in an album that was almost too easy to push repeat on, over and over again, in 2023.
3. “Glory Hour,” Victory
The wonderfully talented singer-songwriter-musician from Detroit, who won a Grammy for her contributions to Kanye West’s “Jesus Is King” album in 2021, avoids the sophomore slump in triumphant fashion with “Glory Hour.” The record is a stunning showcase for the singer — who also goes by Victory Boyd — mixing gospel, folk, country blues and spoken word in ways that just feel so entirely authentic and natural. Her voice, which has long drawn comparisons to that of the great Nina Simone, is sensational throughout, filling hearts with both joy and hope as she rejoices in the Lord.
4. “Such Ferocious Beauty,” Cowboy Junkies
It’s the perfect title for a Cowboy Junkies album, underscoring the spellbinding tension that has always existed between songwriter-guitarist Michael Timmins’ intensely emotional lyrics and sister Margo’s gorgeous delivery of those oft-anguished words. This offering — the group’s first full-length album of new original material since 2018’s brilliant “All That Reckoning” — is particularly raw and emotional, as the Timmins family (including drummer Peter) process the loss of their parents and deliver a batch of songs that are indeed brimming with “Such Ferocious Beauty.”
5. “72 Seasons,” Metallica
Forty years after breaking onto the scene with the 1983 debut “Kill ‘Em All,” Metallica served notice that it’s still the band to beat in hard rock/metal with the release of its terrific 11th full-length studio offering. The album finds the best-selling Bay Area band of all time doing anything but resting on its mighty laurels, but rather pushing the pedal to the — um, well — metal for basically the entire 77-minute runtime. James Hetfield’s lyrics and vocal delivery are topnotch, while guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo thunder along in equally impressive fashion. Lars Ulrich is the machine that makes the whole thing go, showing once again that he might be the most underrated drummer in rock history.
6. “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” Lana Del Rey
Del Rey just keeps right on turning out great albums, with this wordy title being the eighth worthy effort she’s delivered since signing a major label deal in the early 2010s. While not every track on the record is stellar, the highs to be found here are truly towering — notably, the luxuriously gorgeous title track and the intensely moving and artsy “A&W.” Overall, the album stands as further proof that Del Rey ranks as one of the greatest artists of the 21st century.
7. “Lauren Daigle,” Lauren Daigle
The Louisiana native nicely showcases her powerhouse vocals throughout her long-awaited fourth album, which follows the platinum-selling crossover smash “Look Up Child” of 2018. Much has been made about this being the first mainstream pop record for Daigle — who has experienced her greatest success in the contemporary Christian music realm — yet that’s probably just marketing noise, given that the singer’s faith is still at front and center of basically everything to be found here. And that’s a good thing, in part because no other topic propels Daigle to greater musical heights.
8. “Everything Is Alive,” Slowdive
The British shoegaze outfit returns with a work of shining beauty and vast intrigue, further cementing its position among the best indie-pop bands of the last 30 or so years. The music shimmers and soothes, playing down the always sturdy melodies in a mix of hushed lyrics, evocative sonic landscapes and just the right amount of tension to hold the whole thing together. The result — spanning eight songs over nearly 42 minutes — is the best chill-out record of 2023.
9. “Psychopath,” Morgan Wade
“Reckless,” Wade’s remarkable major label debut from 2021, set the bar mighty high. While the follow-up effort doesn’t quite clear that mark, it does come close enough for us to remain convinced that Wade should be one of country music’s best singer-songwriters for many years to come. It’s more finely polished than the earlier effort, at least in terms of the production work, which serves as an intriguing counterbalance to Wade’s gritty, hardscrabble lines. And her greatest strength remains the ability to make you believe every single word that she utters.
10. “The Great Escape,” Larry June and The Alchemist
Prolific San Francisco rapper June, who has released something like a dozen albums/mixtapes/EPs in the 2020s alone, is at the top of his game on this outing with hip-hop producer Alchemist. The latter also does a great job as he shows off his Grammy-winning skills while building complex, yet fluid sheets of music from kooky cool samples and sounds. The synergy is tangible, with June’s smooth flow finding a comfortable home amid Alchemist’s easy grooves.
