Disclaimer: This article reviews albums containing explicit content.
Like every year, 2023 was full of innovation and creativity within the music industry. From outlaw country to surf rock to R&B, emerging artists and longtime heavyweights alike put out great new material across all genres. Below are my picks for the top ten best albums from the past year.
10. “Higher” by Chris Stapleton
In his fifth studio album, “Higher,” Chris Stapleton reminds everyone why he’s one of the biggest names in country music. The album encapsulates a lot of what makes Stapleton special, and it’s his best work since his debut album, “Traveller.”
I particularly enjoyed the blues and soul influence that is present throughout parts of the album, something that Stapleton brings in much of his music, but expertly so here. The record’s musical and lyrical high point comes on the heartfelt acoustic ballad, “Trust,” which is my personal favorite. “Higher” also performed well commercially, with the hit single “White Horse” receiving a nomination for Best Country Song at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
With Stapleton’s signature soulful vocals as sharp as ever, “Higher” has a lot to offer, even for those who tend to steer clear of country music.
9. “Austin” by Post Malone
Post Malone’s fifth studio album sees Malone pivot slightly from the hip-hop style that made him famous, instead opting for a more acoustic and guitar-centric set of songs. The album does include some of Malone’s trademark pop-rap, but also showcases his versatility.
“Chemical” and “Landmine” are two big hits with equally grand instrumentals, while “Green Thumb” displays Malone’s unique vocal quality over a simple acoustic guitar. Almost every song feels like it fits, and nothing feels too dull or repetitive. The album is solid as a whole, but it hasn’t quite gotten the credit it deserves.
“Austin” is authentic and vulnerable, and although it is a bit different from past Post Malone albums, it’s worth a listen.
8. “For All The Dogs” by Drake
As is the case for all new music from Drake, “For All The Dogs” was one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Although reviews were somewhat mixed upon release, it’s clear that the album was a big step up after a steep decline in the Toronto MC’s career.
“First Person Shooter” (feat. J. Cole) is the best out of a strong lineup of collaborations on the album, while “8am in Charlotte” and “Away From Home” are my favorite tracks overall.
At almost 90 minutes in length, I felt that the album could have been improved by removing a few subpar tracks, but the majority of it is solid. At its best, “For All The Dogs” is a significant improvement for Drake from some of his recent work.
The Falconer’s full review of “For All The Dogs” can be found here.
7. “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” by Noah Kahan
After putting out the original version of the album in 2022, Noah Kahan released “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” in June, with a handful of new songs accompanying the originals. Since the release, Kahan’s popularity has hit new highs, and he has solidified himself as one of the biggest up-and-coming artists of 2023
The album shows the most recent step in Kahan’s development as a songwriter, displaying the emergence of his own unique sound. “Dial Drunk” and “Call Your Mom” were instant hits, and, for me, “You’re Gonna Go Far” is the best song in his catalog to date.
With indie folk quickly increasing in popularity, Kahan is leading the charge.
6. “UTOPIA” by Travis Scott
Travis Scott’s first studio album in five years was worth the wait. “UTOPIA” expands and builds on Scott’s distinctive hip-hop and trap sound without dramatically changing it.
The album contains a star-studded list of collaborations, including the likes of 21 Savage, SZA, and The Weeknd. Although the album sits at a lengthy 19 tracks, there are very few weak spots, and the majority of the album is cohesive. “TELEKINESIS” (feat. SZA & Future) is undoubtedly the best song on the album, while “LOOOVE” (feat. Kid Cudi) is one of the more underrated tracks.
Overall, Scott blends musical innovation with his tried and true style in “UTOPIA” to create one of the best rap albums of the year.
5. “GUTS!” by Olivia Rodrigo
After the massive success of Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, “SOUR,” the pressure was on for her to follow it up with an equally successful sophomore record. And she delivered big time. “GUTS!” builds on Rodrigo’s previous momentum, and continues to propel her towards becoming the best of the best in pop music.
I came away impressed with how Rodrigo didn’t hesitate to experiment with her sound throughout the album, as opposed to playing it safe and putting out a carbon copy of the extremely successful “SOUR”. While there are certainly several tracks reminiscent of the songs that brought Rodrigo into the spotlight, tracks like “pretty isn’t pretty” and “bad idea right?” put Rodrigo’s versatility on display and show what she is capable of in more indie and rock-influenced spheres.
Overall, “GUTS!” is an excellent sophomore album for Rodrigo, showcasing her growth as a songwriter while still maintaining her personality and relatability.
The Falconer’s full-length review of “GUTS!” can be found here.
4. “Let’s Start Here” by Lil Yachty
There hasn’t been a bigger left turn in music in the past year — and probably the past several — than Lil Yachty’s 2023 album “Let’s Start Here”. The album sees Lil Yachty’s sound evolve from trap to a varied project that includes elements of jazz and experimental rock, and while most people didn’t see this coming, it’s very well-executed.
The album’s opening track, “the BLACK seminole,” sounds like it could almost fit into a Pink Floyd album, while “running out of time” has elements of ‘70s funk. “drive ME crazy!” is my favorite song on the album, with a catchy chorus and lots of character in the vocals. Stylistically, the album is about as diverse as it gets.
“Let’s Start Here” was an ambitious and dramatic shift for Lil Yachty, and it ended up being a huge success.
3. “Weathervanes” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Few artists are able to tell a story with their music like Jason Isbell. On “Weathervanes,” accompanied by his band, the 400 Unit, Isbell puts that quality on full display. The album is deep and complex both lyrically and musically, incorporating elements of country, southern rock, and Americana.
Hard-hitting, uptempo songs like “Deathwish” mesh well with softer, more acoustic tracks like “Middle of the Morning” and “Cast Iron Skillet,” preventing the album from getting monotonous or boring. “Save the World,” an urgent and disturbing take on gun violence, stands out as the most impactful song on the album.
With so many fantastic country and Americana releases this year, “Weathervanes” has seemed to slip a little bit under the radar, but Isbell’s unique vocals and exceptional lyricism make it a must-listen.
2. “Zach Bryan” by Zach Bryan
Just a year after rising to the top of country and rock charts with his 2022 album “American Heartbreak,” Zach Bryan returned in 2023 with a new self-titled album that has been equally as successful as its predecessor.
“East Side of Sorrow” and “El Dorado” are major highlights for me, and have been mainstays in my personal music rotation since the album was released. Another standout song is “Tourniquet,” which is a great display of Bryan’s lyrical ability.
All of the collaborations on the album work well, especially Bryan’s duets with The Lumineers (“Spotless”) and Kacey Musgraves (“I Remember Everything”). The contributions of both artists add an extra dimension to their respective songs without taking anything away from Bryan’s vocal style or songwriting.
Bryan has a unique ability to write about heavy and dark topics in a way that conveys the message of the song, while still making it sound smooth and easy to listen to. Because of the simple yet fresh songwriting, I think that this album will age really well and maintain its popularity for years to come.
1. “Sunburn” by Dominic Fike
Memorable melodic riffs, pristine production, and exceptional vocal delivery make Dominic Fike’s third release the best album of 2023. “Sunburn” is a blast to listen to, with each track offering something a little different. Simply put, the vibes of this album elevate it into a class of its own.
“Sunburn” showcases Fike’s ability to shift between genres — from rap to pop-punk, alternative rock, and everywhere in between. Each idea is executed to perfection, and despite the wide range of styles, the album feels connected and cohesive.
Leadoff hit “How Much Is Weed?” and title track “Sunburn” are my favorite songs on the album, but with so many excellent tracks, it’s difficult to narrow it down to just two. “4×4” uses acoustic folk elements to show a side of Fike’s sound that hadn’t really been put on display previously.
“Sunburn” is solid from top to bottom without any big misses and each song holds up just as well on its own as the album does as a whole. Overall, it’s Fike’s best and most complete work to date, and the best album of the year.
