As a music enthusiast with decades of listening under my belt, I must say that 2023 has truly been a remarkable year for tunes! The variety and quality of albums released this year have left me in awe. If I had to pick one album that stole the show for me, it would be Kacey Musgraves’ “Deeper Well.
Picture this scenario: You’ve been cataloguing your most loved albums all year long, all set to compile your Top 10 list, but suddenly, an artist known for consistently delivering good music unexpectedly drops a new release during the final three months of the year.
This year, instead of SZA and her “SOS” album taking the second spot on my list in 2022, it’s Kendrick Lamar and his latest release, “GNX,” that has swiftly made its way onto this year’s list. My AirPods have been filled with various other exceptional projects from this year, many of which are also featured prominently on my Spotify Wrapped.
1. Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter
With 27 tracks, “Cowboy Carter” transcends the boundaries of an album. It stands as a masterpiece that doubles as an educational resource. By delving into country music, Beyoncé not only embraces a genre originated by African Americans but redefines it in her unique style, yielding remarkable outcomes. She collaborates with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone; she empowers rising Black artists on songs that significantly impact their lives; she breathes new life into Beatles and Dolly Parton classics while preserving the essence that made them iconic originally. Even a powerful operatic sequence is included in “Daughter.” There seems to be no musical feat beyond Queen Bey’s reach.
2. Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft
It’s astounding how Eilish managed to debut with an album as impressive as “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” and then produce hit tracks like “Therefore I Am,” “Happier Than Ever,” and “What Was I Made For.” Yet, she outdoes herself by crafting the best album of her career thus far – “Hit Me Hard and Soft“. The ten songs resonate deeply. Some, such as “Birds of a Feather”, are lighthearted and easy-going, while others, like “The Greatest” and “Wildflower”, take things to another level. “L’Amour de Ma Vie” begins with a jazzy, soft melody but transforms into Super Saiyan mode in the most impressive way possible. The nearly six-minute closing track, “Blue,” ends with this line: “But when can I hear the next one?” Here’s hoping that means more music is on the horizon.
3. Usher, Coming Home
As an ardent fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about Usher’s latest album, which, in my opinion, rivals his masterpiece from 2004, “Confessions.” It’s a shame more people haven’t given it a spin. This album showcases top-notch R&B that serves as a testament to why he stands among the all-time greats, just like his electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance did. Tracks like “Please U,” “Kissing Strangers,” “I Am the Party,” and “Bop” are so catchy, it’s tough not to hit replay! So, I strongly recommend you give this album a listen.
4. Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
The carpenter demonstrates proficiency in crafting pop hits like “Pop Smash,” yet excels particularly on the country track “Slim Pickins” and R&B numbers such as “Don’t Smile” and “Bed Chem,” which shows traces of Tamia’s late ’90s hit “So Into You.” My favorite? The energetic tune “Good Graces.” At 36 minutes, the album “Short n’ Sweet ” lives up to its name, being both concise and charming, but also satisfying, hard-to-resist, catchy, adorable, and simply fantastic. This record is brimming with great vibes.
5. Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine
Ariana Grande consistently delivers exceptional projects, and her latest album, Eternal Sunshine, is no exception. This vibrant, intricately-crafted effort showcases Grande’s breathtaking vocals as its focal point. Across 13 tracks, she shares intimate, vulnerable moments, with notable standouts such as “Bye,” “Supernatural,” “Don’t Want to Break Up Again,” “I Wish I Hated You,” and the title track.
6. Tems, Born in the Wild
For years now, Tems’ music has been constantly on replay, but her debut album just dropped, and it doesn’t fail to impress! The opening track, titled, delivers a thoughtful and majestic feel, while tunes like “Wickedest” and “Love Me JeJe” are infectious Afrobeat hits that will definitely get you moving.
7. Kendrick Lamar, GNX
An unexpected masterpiece, the GNX album showcases Compton-born rapper Lamar at his best, demonstrating that he’s infallible in his craft. “Luther,” one of only two songs featuring SZA, is soulful and hard to resist, while “Squabble Up” and “TV Off” are guaranteed party hits. It’s alright that “Not Like Us” isn’t on the album; the quality of GNX is so high that it doesn’t require a Drake-directed diss track to make an impact.
8. Tyla, Tyla +
Tyla’s debut album, titled after her name, serves as the main course following the appetizer of ‘Water.’ This demonstrates that Tyla is not limited to producing hit singles alone. The groundbreaking artist delivers impressively well on this self-titled release, with standout tracks such as ‘Push 2 Start,’ ‘Safer,’ ‘On and On,’ ‘Breathe Me,’ ‘Shake Ah’ and ‘Back to You.’ Additionally, there are the delightful singles ‘Truth or Dare,’ ‘Art’ and ‘Jump’ that are not to be overlooked.
9. Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well
Just like her 2018 hit album “Golden Hour“, Musgraves once again touches your emotions with her latest release, “Deeper Well“. This is masterful storytelling at its best. The opening track, “Cardinal”, sets the tone beautifully – it’s dreamy, groovy, emotional, and spiritual. The rest of the album continues in this vein, making it difficult to choose favorites, but I strongly suggest listening to “Jade Green”, “Giver/Taker”, “Nothing to Be Scared Of” and the title track.
10. Shaboozey, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
Beyoncé featuring Shaboozey on two tracks of “Cowboy Carter” was the perfect pass he needed to soar with his third album. The track “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has become a massive hit, equaling the record for most weeks at No. 1 in Billboard history – it’s everywhere. However, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going” demonstrates that Shaboozey is not just a one-hit wonder. Give a listen to “Drink Don’t Need No Mix” and you’ll thank me later.
Notable mentions (listed alphabetically by artist): Andra Day, Cassandra (cherith); Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal; Kali Uchis, Orquídeas; Muni Long, Revenge; Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department
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2024-12-17 17:55