With the close of the year around the corner, we're listing off our top 35 albums of the year...
1. boygenius - The Record
The second album released in March from the girl group, comprised of Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker has received worldwide recognition for its beautifully lyricism, sonicism, and ingenius production. The single "Not Strong Enough" has quickly risen as their most popular song on the debut drop with over 64 million streams and three others following suit, such as "Cool About It" with 55 million, "True Blue" with over 31 million, and "Emily I'm Sorry" with over 33 million. The group has currently received 7 Grammy nominations, including "Album of the Year" and "Record of the Year".
2. Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
Following her widely successful album, "Sour", Olivia took the year to tease her upcoming album and introduced the drop with "vampire", which encompasses the energy and mantra of the 90s pop punk regime. The intentions of the album were to tap into your emotional and angsty side that other genres seem to downplay. The album has been nominated for two Grammys, included "Best Pop Vocal Album" and "Album of the Year" with its top track at over 590 million streams to date.
3. Taylor Swift - 1989 (Taylor's Version)
The year of Taylor Swift continues with the release of her re-recorded synth-pop album. The original studio drop marked the true adaptation of her music, as she shifted her country sound to the pop icon she's developed into today. Swift included not only included the original songs from the 2014 hit, but included 5 additional never before heard vault tracks.
4. Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation
The top of 2023 was a clear, integral part of Miley's discography with the release of her multi-genre album. The self-fulfilling and empowering piece of art kicked off the year with a free-spirited anthem that set the tone for the rest of the year. Miley teased the album with her first single "Flowers", followed quickly by its accompanying music video that immediately became a newfound piece of pop culture. The song has been sitting comfortably on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for almost the entirety of 2023, with over 1 billion streams.
5. Troye Sivan - Something To Give Each Other
Almost earning a perfect rating, Sivan released his debut album after a 5 year hiatus that listeners have claimed "saved pop music" and is well on its way to earn itself multiple accolades in the coming year. The first release, "Rush", has received two Grammy nominations and reached viral status for its choreographically-heavy music video and free-spirited energy. Troye used the musical platform for a chance at personal story-telling and doing so allowed him to break barriers, reintroduce nostalgic sounds, and encompass his listeners in rhythmically moving art.
6. Doja Cat - Scarlet
The highly anticipated rap album from hit artist, Doja broke records immediately after it was made public. Her new work has become a bridge between her previous feminine artistry in "Planet Her" and "Hot Pink", which focused on the pop and R&B realms of her talent whereas her 2023 drop focuses on her rap ability, in a more masculine tone. It's top single "Paint The Town Red" amassed over 649 million streams followed by "Agora Hills" at 183 million.
7. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
The alternative rock group dropped a legacy album this year following the passing of their bandmate, Taylor Hawkins. Each song commemorates the late drummer and engulfs you in the grief and uphill battle expereienced by each member. "But Here We Are" has received a near perfect rating and climbed the charts in multiple countries, including Australia, Belgium, Japan, and Italy.
8. Kali Uchis - Red Moon In Venus
The contemorary and R&B-inspired album from Uchis was a beautifully emotional release that fell into the realm of heartbreak, pain, loss, love, and vulnerability. She featured current artists within its curation and recording, including Don Toliver, Summer Walker, and Omar Apollo. The single "Moonlight" has amassed over 486 million streams, featured on Billboard's Global 200 Chart as well as offifically certifying platinum & gold.
9. Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden
The anonymous metal band dropped yet another head-bashing collection that top charts, specifically in the UK & US. The artistry falls primarily within the electronic, metal, pop, and blues space with each of its leading tracks accumulating well over 25 million streams. The single "The Summoning" has been crowned as its biggest hit with over 82 million streams alone.
10. Sam Smith - Gloria
A true change to his discrography, Sam Smith found his voice to openly discuss topics such as sexuality, self-love, confidence, independence, and more. Although it focuses on pop sounds, there are bits of R&B hidden beneath the surface. The leading single "Unholy", featuring Kim Petras has become a cultural phenomenon with over 1.3 billion streams and introduces the album beautifully. With features including Jessie Reyez, Koffee, Ed Sheeran, and Calvin Harris, the tracks introduce other untouched areas of music for him.
11. The Kid Laroi - The First Time
With collaborations from headline names such as Jungkook, Central Cee, and Omer Fedi, The Kid Laroi dropped a heartfelt body of work, focusing on producing mature and authentic music, setting himself away from his prior drops. It peaked at #1 for Hip Hop / R&B albums in his hometown of Australia, #7 in New Zealand, and #3 on ARIA. His attempt to spread his wings and mix something new as compared to his previously released work is allowing us to see a different side to his artistry within Rap, R&B, and Pop.
12. Blink182 - ONE MORE TIME...
From the rise of pop punk, the genre's moguls released something unforgettable after a 4 year break from their last album "NINE". The boy band centered their sound around a more indie and Rock energy with odes to their previous work. "ONE MORE TIME" is a turning point for the band with the return of the original guitarist & vocalist, Tom DeLonge. The reconcilliation between band members made for an incredible album that breached #1 on 5 US Billboard charts.
13. Olivia Dean - Messy
The incredible vocals of Olivia Dean brought us a soul-filled release that blends the nuances of her vocal abilities, wide range, and impressive lyricism. She provides us a sense of newness and a fresh sound with a familiar nostalgia. Her work peaked in multiple countries with her singles "Dive" reaching over 19 million streams and "The Hardest Part" at over 47 million. Each track emits themes of pain, love, self-reliance, and adoration, coated in a strum of authenticity.
14. Melanie Martinez - Portals
Martinez's artistic change from her previous work has made headlines since she first teased her next project, contructing this album as the bridge between 2019's "K-12" and into her more mature era. She accompanied the teaser with a visual of "RIP Cry Baby", which alludes to a change in both her sound and musical themes, driving a wedge into her past & future. Sonically, the tracks revolve around a more complex narration and visual into her personal life. "EVIL" is currently her most popular song with over 74 million loyal listeners.
15. The Japanese House - In the End It Always Does
Indie pop group, The Japanese House consistently uses their platform to speak the truth, discuss hushed topics, and open up about their own experiences. With an all around high rating across the board, the body of work received fan appraisal for its unique undertones and hit the top numbers on UK charts. With 12 tracks under its belt, the singles "Boyhood", "Touching Yourself", and "Sunshine Baby" each collected over 9.5 million streams and toyed within the themes of self-discovery, sexuality, and acceptance.
16. Coi Leray - Coi
The success of the 2022 single "Players" kicked off the vibe for the following year's album and is 3x platinum in Canada and gold in 6 countries. In spite of the news outlets painting a picture of being a one hit wonder, Coi showcased her talent to tell the world that she's here to stay. She curated this piece of art for herself as a testament to how far she's come since the beginning of her industry days. She emits a self-confidence, strength, joy, and fun within each track and thanks those who preceded her and welcoming those who she inspires.
17. Luke Combs - Gettin' Old
Following his 2022 album, Combs made public the sister studio release to "Growin' Up", a personalized story of where he is presently in life and appreciating the future, all while feeling nostalic about the past. The record has received certifications in multiple countries and performed well on the year-end charts, earning him countless accolades. The cover of Tracey Chapman's "Fast Car", is also included on the drop with over 321 million streams.
18. Don Toliver - Love Sick
The third studio release from Don Toliver was a worlwide success this year with favorable reviews and overwhelming streams, specifically with the song "Private Landing", featuring Justin Bieber & Future. It sits on the bridge of R&B, HipHop, and rap, infuzing softer sounds with harsher lines. The charts sat his music high, such as Billboard's 200, Swiss Albums, and Top R&B / HipHop Albums.
19. Stray Kids - ROCK-STAR
The South Korean boy band, Stray Kids have become a massive topic of conversation within the industry since their culmination. With a distrinctive and experimental sound and lyricism, the group's latest drop may be their highest performing one yet. With chart topping tracks across the board in multiple regions, such as #1 on Billboard's World Albums, #69 on UK's OCC, and #1 on Japan's Oricon. The single "LALALALA" is one of their highest streamed singles to date with over 38 million and explores a different range of their artistry, specifically in the afrobeats genre.
20. Jelly Roll - Whitsitt Chapel
Making a name for himself, Jelly Roll curated a beautifully vulnerable track list for listeners to connect with. His honesty with his past, ability to let us into his dark points in life, and being a continuous voice for those who don't feel heard will take him far. The pieces of music speak volumes in themes such as hopefulness, gratitude, and redemption as he moves forward with his head held high. It received a perfect rating with the single "Need A Favor" receiving over 94 million streams and "Save Me (with Lainey Wilson)" accumulating over 38 million.
21. Kelsea Ballerini - Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
The second EP added onto Kelsea's discography is her most vulnerable piece of art to date. She provided us with a glimpse into her life, sudden changes, and using her voice to connect deeper with longtime fans as well as open the door for new ones to discover her music. The album hit #11 on Billboard's Top Country Albums as well as #5 on its Independent Albums. The single "Penthouse" accumulated over 39 million streams, listing it as its leading track.
22. Paramore - This Is Why
With the rise of pop punk music, Paramore delivered yet another head banging album following their 6 year break from their last drop, "After Laughter". The 2023 collection is a more mature form of their artistry, straying away from their previous work and drew inspiration from older music, all while blending it with their personal flair. The release charted on Billboard's top Rock albums and was nominated for two Grammys.
23. Raye - My 21st Century Blues
The year of 2023 was a triumph for Raye through the success of her single "Escapism" and shortly followed by her debut album. The vulnerable piece of art encompasses blues, jazz, pop, and R&B influence where she discusses taboo topics, mental health, self-confidence, self-love, and more. Her direction from the electronic space to a more true to herself one allowed her to be more creative and for listeners to connect on a deeper level.
24. Dave & Central Cee - Split Decision
The collaboration beteen Dave & Central Cee for their summer track list was a hit across multiple countries, including the US, Austria, and Canada. Although the EP contains 4 tracks, it gained worldwirde recognition for its fresh and incomparable sound. The leading single "Sprinter" has gained viral status and quickly became the most popular British Hip Hop song of all time at more than 500 million streams.
25. Måneskin - Rush!
The platinum certified piece of art from the rock group kicked the year off with a bang. They blended pieces of their Italian influences and heritage into each song, which gave us the opportunity to curate a geniuine connection to the group. Its top charting songs include "HONEY (ARE U COMING?) with 58 million, "THE LONELIEST" with 270 million, and "GOSSIP (feat. Tom Morello)" with over 161 million.
26. Mac DeMarco - Five Easy Hot Dogs
The instrumental album was an unexpected change from DeMarco's prior album. The entirety of the work was created during his venture from the west to east coast. Despite the change from his prior work to 2023, the release was a beautiful change to explore a different side to his artistry while also engulfing us in a more minimalistic area of music.
27. Ice Spice - Like..?
It truly is the year for Ice Spice with successful features, mesmerizing talent, and connectable personality but she more significantly delivered with her latest drop at the top of the year. "Like..?" was immediately widely adored and quick to climb the charts, specifically with "Deli", "Princess Diana", and "Munch (Feelin' U". Currently the single, "Deli" carries over 105 million streams and counting.
28. Niall Horan - The Show
At a near perfect score, Niall explored more of his talent through this third debut album and centered around maturing himself as an artist, exploring different sounds, and curating art for his current state as a solo singer. From breaching #2 on Billboard 200 to #1 on UK's OOC, there is so much storyline to see from this release. The first single "Heaven" with over 184 million streams, encapsulates positivity and radiates appreciation for the older generations of music, such as the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
29. NF - Hope
Infamously known for speaking the truth in his lyricism, NF delivered yet another personal set of songs detailing his life, present mentality, and internal battles. He speaks on the ability to see the positive to life as he's been met with massive success but continues to remain the humble artist that he was in the beginning. The album has hit Billboard's Hot 100 chart and listed as #1 on the US's Top R&B / Hip-Hop Albums.
30. Daniel Caesar - Never Enough
Self-produced and self-recorded with his younger brother, and a few key members, Daniel Caesar released a personal testament for himself, fans, and listeners to connect with post-pandemic. The R&B-based album was an experimental piece that set his music apart from his previous work. He quoted influences from other niche genres, such as folk and synth pop that compelled him to explore a different directionality from other areas of the industry. It charted well amongst multiple countries, specifically in the US & UK.
31. Lewis Capaldi - Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent
Adjacent to his vulnerable documentary, which gave us a glimpse into his personal struggles, internal pressures, and creative process behind his 2023 album, Lewis released his second studio album. The drop became the quickest selling one of the year in multiple countries. The single "Wish You The Best" currently is the biggest track to date with over 156 million streams.
32. Lil Uzi Vert - Pink Tape
Rapper Lil Uzi Vert dropped a highly anticipated album that fans were at the ready to stream. With a few features, including Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Snow Strippers, Bring Me the Horizon, Don Toliver, and Babymetal, his ever-changing sound within the industry fits him with some of the most influential artists of the generation. The track "Just Wanna Rock" breached viral status with over 557 million streams and is 2x platinum in the US & 3x platinum in Canada.
33. Pink - Trustfall
The 9th album added onto P!nk's discography is centered around honesty within her private life. She brought us along an emotional rollercoaster of love and loss where she openly discusses grieving the loss of her father. She hit certified gold in the UK and #1 in over 8 countries. Listeners are given the opportunity to connect with a major pop star on topics countless artists steer clear of.
34. Mod Sun - God Save The Teen
The Pop Punk artist dropped a 12 track album that not only features some authentic and never before heard sounds but adds in pieces of nostalgia from older generations. Other genre-specific artists hopped onto some of the songs, including Avril Lavigne and Royal & the Serpent. The track list also features of a cover of Goo Goo Doll's "Iris", giving the song a hint of his very own punk impression.
35. Flume - Things Don't Always Go the Way You Plan
Consisting of unreleased tracks from the previous decade to present date, Flume dropped a collection of varying sounds and production styles into one place. It felt as though the artist used the release to purge his vault tracks and give us a glimpse into his timeline, change in artistry, and growth.
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