louise’s top 10 albums of 2023
honorable mentions
grouptherapy. - i was mature for my age, but i was still a child
Jumelles Studio on instagram
JPEGMAFIA/Danny Brown - Scaring the Hoes
jpegmafia on instagram
Teezo Touchdown - How Do You Sleep at Night?
TONY TOUCHDOWN on instagram
10.
Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
when i first heard this album i was like oh, and then i was like ahhh. while she may not be doing anything revolutionary in the pop music scene, rodrigo’s personality shines through these tracks, in an otherwise very washed out genre. with this record she continues to not just cement herself as - in my opinion - the best disney channel artist - but one of the best pop artists in this current generation.
photo courtesy of Geffen/Amazon
9.
Sampha - Lahai
i think this album cover perfectly captures how lahai feels when you listen to it, majestic. each time i listen to this project, i find myself feeling more faithful. then again, most of the faith is that it doesn’t take another six years for another amazing sampha project.
photo courtesy of XL Recordings/Young
8.
Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!
this album has somehow surpassed ware’s previous album, what’s your pleasure?, and that is not an easy feat. with more soul, more funk, and more things i can’t describe in order for me to keep this article appropriate for all ages, this album has some insanely good tracks. additionally, vocally, these are some of the strongest and most passionate vocal performances you’ll get all year.
photo courtesy of Interscope Records
7.
Susanne Sundfør -blómi
this album not only holds my favorite song of the year - spoiler alert - but it also holds some of the most enchanting production i’ve heard since Spellling’s The Turning Wheel. this album feels like those 1 hour water sounds videos you watch when you’re trying to calm yourself down. the occasional spoken word moments littered throughout also provide a nice contrast, but still, accompanied by the beautiful instrumentation.
photo courtesy of Warner Music Group
6.
Lana Del Rey -Did You Know…
did you know there’s a tunnel under ocean blvd is a favorite album for many this year, and it’s very clear as to why. this album is filled with lana del rey’s best vocal performances, some of her best written songs, and some better genre meshing than some of her early work was able to pull off. i think one word to describe this album is “beautifully made, and well crafted”. if you’re wondering why that’s more than one word, it’s cause this album is more. i don’t know what that means, just go with it…
photo courtesy of Interscope Records
5.
Samia - Honey
an instant favorite of mine, with some of the most versatility i saw all year. this album holds some of the most powerful songs of the year, while also delivering some of the best pop tracks, perfect for any season. and if you’re upset that this is only 5th place, come back in a few days and ill ask “are you still, mad at me?” that was such a dumb joke haha.
photo courtesy of Grand Jury Music
4.
underscores - Wallsocket
after watching her break down the production of this album, and regretting seeing her in concert, i think i’m allowed to say that this album is def one of my favs. sincerely, it feels like some sort of neo-hyper pop, and the production versatility makes me wonder how she is still so insanely overrated. if you’re looking to have your head explode, both by decibels, but then some of the most heartbreaking lyricism of the year, give it a listen, cause if you don’t, then my head will explode.
photo courtesy of Atlantic Records
3.
LAUNDRY DAY - Younger Than…
younger than i was before is some of the most fun i can tell the band is having in a long time. for one, their production has stepped up an insane amount. the vocal performances have gotten better as well, and the use of skits made me wonder how it took five years for a record of theirs to include them. not only are they my favorite band, but they continually remind me why, with insane songs dealing with love, childhood, and having a miniscule drug addiction. maybe one day they’ll come to seattle. just kidding. they won’t. they HATE me.
photo courtesy of Polo & Fomo
2.
Caroline Polachek -Desire…
desire, i want to turn into you was at one point my favorite album of the year, and don’t worry it never grew off me, number one just really grew on me. however, don’t let that take away from one of, if not, the best produced albums of the year, the most fun and beautiful instrumentation, and some of the most extravagant performances from polachek so far. this album really does feel like being on an island, and while i’d love to say something intellectual to really describe how great this record is, i just suggest you listen to it. go. right now. DO IT!
photo courtesy of Columbia Records
1.
enchanting, passionate, stern, progressive, loving, complicated. this album is a whirl of everything that music needs. the soundscapes created by jackson show how her attention to detail is immaculate. she truly understands how to make a great record, and every single track on this project, including the “interludes”, provide so much to this album. i loved this record from the beginning, but over the past few months, it slowly made its way to the top of my year-end list. i think the best way to describe how good the songs are, is that i struggled picking one for my top 10 songs list. truly i could use all of them and i’d feel strong about each pick. regardless, this is some of the best music you will get, not only from 2023, but from the decade as a whole.
photo courtesy of September Recordings
Kara Jackson - Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?